Chancellor Gordon Brown’s cash boost for affordable housing has been welcomed by the timber frame and joinery sectors.
The 50% increase in the social housing budget, which translates to an estimated 10,000 extra homes a year, was described as “encouraging” by the UK Timber Frame Association and “very significant” by the British Woodworking Federation.
The chancellor’s spending review also pledged £150m on infrastructure for new housing developments and commited the government to investment plans for schools and hospitals.
Hugh McKay, UKTFA chairman, said: “The UKTFA is encouraged to see government is still taking the same positive approach to help solve the affordable housing crisis and it will help timber frame companies to continue their investment into more automated machinery.”
Mr McKay also welcomed the investment in housing infrastructure but believes there should be more partnership between the government and the private building sector to deliver the homes. He said planning delays were a problem.
Richard Lambert, director of the British Woodworking Federation, described the social housing spending increase as “very significant” because it was the first time a government had increased spending on building homes in two decades.
He added: “The extra funds for schools, hospitals and housing, coupled with the indications of support for the conclusions of the Sustainable Buildings Task Group, will mean further opportunities for the joinery sector.”
The Construction Products Association (CPA) said the rise in social housing spending represented half the increase recommended in the recent Barker Review. But CPA chief executive Michael Ankers said it was a “first step in the right direction”.
