Chancellor attacked over shortage of measures to support low-income households
Housing providers and industry bodies say the government鈥檚 mini-budget has not done anything like enough to support the development of affordable homes.
Mark Perry, chief executive of Vivid Homes, which plans to build 17,000 properties in the south of England by 2030, said there was 鈥渁lmost nothing in the growth plan to help people on the lowest incomes鈥�.
He added: 鈥淲hile targeting growth as an antidote to inflation, why not put the money into building more much-needed affordable homes at rents people can afford? That would stimulate the economy and help to address our critical housing shortage.鈥�
Gavin Smart, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: 鈥淲ith rising inflation, which impacts those on the lowest incomes the most, the energy price guarantee on its own was never going to be enough to get people through this winter.
鈥淎s we set out in our recent letter to the prime minister, we needed to see additional support for vulnerable households, targeted through the benefits system, and support for more energy efficiency measures.鈥�
>> See also: Housing chiefs call for planning reform everywhere 鈥� not just in new zones
>> See also: Kwarteng slashes stamp duty as he pledges to 鈥榞et Britain building鈥�
Matthew Townson, director of development and projects at Moda Living鈥檚 single family housing brand, said: 鈥淚f we are to tackle the shortages of quality housing across the UK, a broader approach involving supply-side policies which incentivise the building of more homes remains crucial.鈥�
Fiona Fletcher Smith, chief executive at housing association giant L&Q, said she welcomed measures in the mini-budget to expand home ownership, decarbonise homes and simplify planning.
But she added: 鈥淭here remains a chronic shortage of affordable housing across the country, and more government support will be essential to ensuring the delivery of homes of all tenures, including social rent.鈥�
Growth plan: key housing measures at a glance
- Investment zones The government will work with the devolved administrations and local partners to introduce investment zones across the UK. Such areas will benefit from 鈥渢ax incentives, planning liberalisation and wider support for the local economy鈥�
- Stamp duty cut The duty-free threshold will rise from 拢125,000 to 拢250,000. The first-time buyer threshold increases from 拢300,000 to 拢425,000. First-time buyer stamp duty relief will be available for properties up to 拢625,000 rather than 拢500,000
- Land disposal The government will promote the disposal of surplus public-sector land by allowing departments greater flexibility to reinvest the proceeds of land sales over multiple years
- Faster delivery Legislation will be brought forward in the coming months to reduce 鈥渦nnecessary burdens鈥� to speed up the delivery of infrastructure. This includes reducing the 鈥渂urden of environmental assessments鈥� and 鈥渂ureaucracy鈥� in the consultation process, reforming habitats and species regulations and increasing flexibility to make changes to a development consent order once it has been submitted
- Energy efficiency The government will open applications for up to 拢2.1bn of funds over the next two years to help local authorities, housing associations, schools and hospitals to invest in energy efficiency and renewable heating
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