20th October 2010 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today’s announcement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), to cut social housing to 150,000 over a four year period will severely exacerbate the current housing crisis warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Richard Diment, Director General of the FMB said:
“For the five million people on social housing waiting lists today’s announcement offers no hope to those needing an affordable home. It is also a big blow to house builders who have suffered the worst recession in decades.”
Diment continued
“Householders wanting to upgrade their homes to make them greener and more energy efficient might be encouraged by the £1billion investment for the green investment bank but the truth is this is little more than a token and it remains to be seen if the bank will attract the additional funding that will be needed to retrofit the UK’s 26millin existing homes.”
Diment concluded:
“The boost for more apprenticeships does offer some real hope for those seeking to learn a skilled trade. However, employers in the construction sector will want to be convinced the economy is strong enough to take on new trainees.”
