A lack of affordability for first-time buyers is a major barrier to SME growth, with 84% of smaller housebuilders citing a lack of demand support as a hurdle, according to the SME State of Play survey. The industry has highlighted the survey, produced by the Home Builders Federation, Close Brothers Property Finance and Travis Perkins, as it marks New Homes Week, with the theme this year of the “Power to Move”. The three organisations involved in the report said that its research underlined the need for dedicated support for prospective buyers to give them the power to buy and for SMEs to have the power to build.