Budget soundbites

‘The infatuation with homeownership must be tempered. We need to talk less about housing as an investment and housing ladders, and more about ways to address waiting lists, ways to reduce housing as a polluter, and ways to close the gap between the number of homes being built and households being formed.’ Sarah Webb, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing

‘It does feel like Labour’s eco-town initiative has finally bitten the dust…’

‘It is uncertain at this stage how much of [the £1 billion investment] will impact directly on housing, but it does feel like Labour’s eco-town initiative has finally bitten the dust and turned into a meagre £100 million council-led building programme.’ Rebecca Bennett Casserly, head of residential affordable, EC Harris

‘We are in the midst of major economic and housing crises and the chancellor should simply have backed our call to spend £6.35 billion of public money on helping housing associations deliver 100,000 new social homes over the next two years.’ David Orr, chief executive, National Housing Federation

‘The commitment to allocate £100 million to local authorities to build energy efficient homes is interesting…’

‘The commitment to allocate £100 million to local authorities to build energy efficient homes is interesting given that few councils are building their own houses now, and without more detail it is difficult to see how this well be utilised.’ Andy Doylend, executive director of operations, Circle Anglia

‘There is not enough social housing to go round so affordable housing in the private market is a necessity to prevent a bubble in either direction of the market.’ Marc Vlessing, director, Pocket

‘To make a real difference the government and lenders need to work together to ensure that the scheme, and all the measures put in place over the last year, deliver the major increase in lending we require if the housing market is to enter a genuine recovery.’ Miles Shipside, commercial director, Rightmove

‘We are conscious that many of the existing schemes do not yet offer help to people in negative equity and are therefore pleased the government has committed to seeing how better protection can be offered to them too.’ Adam Sampson, director, Shelter

‘The measures overall are unlikely to significantly improve prospects for higher market activity in the coming months.’

Michael Coogan, director general, Council of Mortgage Lenders

‘It is disappointing that it appears that no changes are to be made to the tax rules on Real Estate Investment Trusts to stimulate investment in residential property.’ John Christian, partner, Pinsent Masons LLP

‘Having just successfully completed the first and second mortgage rescues in the country, Orbit First Step warmly welcomes the scheme’s extension to included homeowners in negative equity. Our experience is that we have been unable to assist many people so far under the current scheme because of insufficient equity.’ Sue Coulson, managing director, OGL Housing

‘Government must acknowledge that the old model of house building is broken. The reality is that people delivering development now will be in the public or voluntary sector.’ Gideon Amos, chief executive, Town and Country Planning Association

‘The chancellor must engage in planning and community engagement process if he is to deliver the green, housing and jobs agenda.’ Martin Willey, president, Royal Town Planning Institute

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