If the Government is really serious about increasing the supply of housing it should be looking to stop the proposed introduction of the Community Infrastructure levy on housing development, speed up the planning system, and tackle the credit crunch, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its response to today's announcement by the Housing Minister, Caroline Flint MP, to ease the delivery of affordable housing.
Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the FMB said,
"At a time when house building is at its lowest level since 1945 today's announcement is little more than cosmetic surgery to mask the more fundamental problems about providing the millions of new homes that are needed in this country. The simple fact is that today's announcement is not about any more additional money as the £270 million had already been allocated."
Berry continued,
"What we need is no more additional taxation on housing development in the form of the Community Infrastructure Levy and a simpler, speedier planning system which will allow quality housing to take place right across the country. Instead all we hear about is the Government's top down housing policy of eco - towns which is not the answer. The Government could do worse than to address the 675,000 empty homes in England and cut the VAT on repairs and maintenance from 17.5 per cent to 5 per cent which offers scope to regenerate and bring other disused buildings back into residential use."
02 July 2008
