CIH: Spring Statement is ‘missed opportunity’

However, Melanie Rees, head of policy at the CIH, said the statement was “another missed opportunity to get us closer to building the homes that we need”.

Ms Rees said: “In his statement the chancellor said that the government’s focus on reducing the national debt is to give the next generation a chance, but unless we quickly start to build more of the right homes in the right places, then the next generation will have absolutely no chance of getting access to a home that they can afford.

“There are measures that could be taken now to address this critical situation that would not require additional borrowing, including redressing the imbalance in the current housing budget.”

Before the statement, the NHF called for housing associations to be given more land for social housing.

“We welcome the government’s continued focus on tackling the housing crisis, as set out in the chancellor’s Spring Statement,” said Adam Morton, policy leader at the NHF.

“However, increased funding is only part of the solution. Housing associations are determined to deliver but the fact remains that if we want to build more affordable homes, we need access to more land at lower prices.”

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “At first glance the Spring Statement has brought some other positive announcements for the UK’s small construction firms.

“The announcement of a doubling of funding to the Lloyds Housing Growth Partnership and an additional £80m funding to support SME firms looking to engage an apprentice is welcome news.

“With Brexit looming large on the horizon and the construction industry facing a chronic skills crisis, it’s of the utmost importance that more skilled workers begin to join the sector. An additional £50m to support T level training will further aid this aim.”

John Fuller, chair of the District Councils’ Network and leader of South Norfolk District Council, said: “As the key housing and planning authorities, we welcome today’s release of Sir Oliver Letwin’s interim update on the build-out review.

“If local councils are to be responsible for delivering housing in their area, central government must strengthen and support their negotiating power when dealing with developers and builders.”

In an update to his build-out review today, Sir Oliver suggested delays in development of permissioned sites is largely down to slow rates of house sales.