The chancellor today delivered the government’s spring statement. Here we present the responses from the sector to the statement.

Greg Reed, Places for People’s Group CEO, said: “Labour continues to show it is up for the housebuilding challenge. This week’s additional funding will accelerate delivery and we’re already talking to Government about priority sites including in Thanet and Swindon, sites referenced by the Chancellor today and where we stand ready to quickly build many new homes.

“Quality new social housing is a known driver of growth and wellbeing, adding millions to the economy, improving health outcomes, and creating thriving Communities. This is sensible investment and Government has listened to our sector but our voice must remain heard when times get tougher for Communities. We’re really concerned about the impact of the proposed welfare reforms as many of our Customers already struggle to afford the essentials.

“A third of our social housing Customers couldn’t work last year due to disability or long-term sickness. One in four struggled with debt or couldn’t afford to put the heating on. Our recent Beyond Homes campaign highlighted our steadfast support to these groups, but state intervention must remain alive enough for us to also commit to planned spend elsewhere – including upgrading existing stock and helping Government to build new homes.

“We’re well on the journey to change but the upcoming Spending Review presents a critical junction. Government must commit to turning the wheel this summer to enable our sector to continue to invest in our communities whilst effectively planning and delivering for the long term.”

Sarah Fitzpatrick, Head of Planning UK at Norton Rose Fulbright, said: “The spring statement confirmed what many in the planning and construction sectors suspected – the proposed planning reforms are set to be a key driver in the government’s push towards economic growth.

“The OBR confirmed that the amendments which were made to the NPPF late last year “will lead to 170,000 additional homes built over the forecast period. This increases the level of real GDP by 0.2% by 2029-30, adding £6.8 billion to the economy, and by over 0.4% in 2034-35.”

“This, together with the proposed changes in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is currently making its way through parliament, forms the base from which the government intends to unleash a period of economic growth.

“The proposed changes do not come without risk. Many of the measures proposed in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill may not be universally popular – such as those on nutrient and water neutrality and will require significant levels of funding and resourcing. Whether, collectively, these measures will be enough to deliver the targeted growth remains to be seen but what is clear is that the planning system is front and centre of the government’s growth agenda.”

Andy Hulme, Group Chief Executive of The Hyde Group, said:  “We need to be positive about the OBR’s forecasts that 1.3m homes will be delivered by the end of the decade. Whilst this is currently lower than the 1.5m homes by the end of this Parliament that the government is aiming to achieve, it still shows that delivery of new homes will be over 300,000 per year.

“This would represent a huge achievement and would see the government take housing starts from an historic low to housing completions reaching a 45-year high in less than five years.

“However, while planning reform will play a hugely important role in achieving this increase in new building, it’s even more important to get the finances of housing right, so the sector can play its part in boosting delivery of 300,000 homes a year.

“To achieve this historic high, it is crucial the government delivers an expanded long-term Affordable Homes Programme at the spending review, and an ambitious ten-year, inflation-linked settlement for social rents, which includes the reintroduction and acceleration of rent convergence.”

Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive at Stonewater, said: “The government is navigating a challenging political and economic landscape, and we see the real-world effect of some of the tough policy decisions being made. Many of these decisions are impacting customers, particularly those reliant on benefits and it’s clear the need for housing for vulnerable people has never been greater.

“We know how empowering it can be for customers to have a place they can call home, but sadly too many people across the country don’t get to experience this because there are simply not enough affordable homes for everyone in need.

“The £2 billion investment in social and affordable homes is a positive step, however, while it is a welcome commitment, it’s crucial to acknowledge that it’s one piece of a larger puzzle.

“To truly address the housing crisis, the sector needs long-term certainty and overarching reform. We urge the government to prioritise planning reform, streamlining processes that hinder development and restrict our ability to build homes efficiently.

“The upcoming Spending Review provides a critical moment for the government to outline its vision and reiterate its commitment to housing. We look forward to seeing a comprehensive plan that empowers providers like us to deliver the homes our communities desperately require.

“We stand ready to work in partnership with the government to translate this investment and future policy into tangible results, ensuring everyone has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home.”

Cllr Claire Holland, Chair of London Councils, said: “The government is right to prioritise boosting economic growth. Whether it’s building new homes, supporting people into work or attracting investment into our local areas, councils have a critical role to play in this mission. However, the crisis in town hall finances is holding us back.

“It’s vital the upcoming Spending Review and planned reform of council funding deliver the investment and financial sustainability boroughs need to drive growth in the capital and across the country. Without this, we risk more and more boroughs entering effective bankruptcy – a situation which would undermine economic confidence, hold back growth, and cost the public purse more in the long run.

“Given the tough fiscal outlook, we must continue to focus on investing in prevention and reform of public services so we can deliver better value for money and better outcomes for our communities. Boroughs are committed to this agenda, but we need funding which enables us to make these long-term changes, as well as dealing with the current pressures which have built up over the last 15 years.”

Jonathan Higgs, Chief Executive of housing association, Raven Housing Trust, said: “The government’s commitment of £2 billion for social and affordable housing in 2026–27 is a positive step toward tackling the housing crisis. It’s encouraging to see this presented as a bridge to a new long-term programme, with further announcements expected in June. To truly give housing providers the stability and confidence we need to plan ahead, the Spending Review must deliver on the promise of the biggest investment boost in a generation.

“At Raven, we are focused on delivering what matters to our customers – building more affordable homes, investing in existing stock, and creating neighbourhoods that are safe, secure and sustainable. While Thanet, Sunderland and Swindon were named in the statement, we urge the Government to ensure this funding is distributed fairly across the country. Areas like Surrey and Sussex are under acute housing pressure, and with the right support, housing associations like ours can respond rapidly to local need.

“The Treasury’s own forecasts suggest this investment could help housebuilding reach a 40-year high and contribute £6.8 billion to GDP by 2030 – a sign of how vital affordable housing is to economic recovery. But to deliver at scale, we also need sustained support for skills. The £625 million training package announced alongside the Spring Statement is welcome, and we’re committed to working with partners to ensure people in our communities benefit from new construction opportunities and green skills.

“With long-term certainty and the right partnerships, we can play a major role in delivering affordable, high-quality, low-carbon homes – helping more people thrive across the South East and beyond.”

Cem Savas, CEO of Plentific, said: “We welcome the government’s commitment to invest £2bn to build 18,000 new social and affordable homes. Across the UK housing sector, we are seeing the positive impact of technology, which is connecting and speeding up the delivery of new homes.

“Through our partnership with the London Homes Coalition, we also support the Government’s £600m investment to tackle construction skills shortages, which the Coalition has been calling for. Plans include training 60,000 engineers, bricklayers, electricians and carpenters to deliver the safe and secure new homes so desperately needed.

“It’s encouraging to hear about the Government’s £3.25bn Transformation Fund and its ambition to pioneer AI tools to modernise the State. We support the government’s drive to address legacy IT systems and its commitment to invest in technology, including cybersecurity, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. As outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the blueprint for digital government in January, technology is well placed to enable growth across the public sector, with the ethical adoption of AI.”

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “Today’s statement was a missed opportunity to support renters across the country. It has done nothing to tackle the chronic shortage of rental housing to meet demand.

“It has done nothing to reform a broken tax system which is failing to encourage and support investment in energy efficiency improvements. And it has done nothing to address the unjust freeze on housing benefit which is leaving so many renters fearful of how they will afford their rents.”

Paresh Raja, CEO of Market Financial Solutions, said: “Overturning outdated parts of government to improve efficiency has been a major focus for Labour since the election, and planning reform was raised again as a key part of this agenda. However, the “get Britain building” rhetoric must now translate into tangible action – bringing in new construction workers is a positive step, as the chancellor had already announced three days ago, but much of today’s speech involved repeating the Autumn Budget’s plans to encourage housebuilding.

“Reforming the planning system is obviously important. However, investors and developers are unlikely to commit to new projects unless they see a strong and growing economy that provides long-term confidence and a return on their investment. The OBR forecasts were a blow in this regard, and the onus must now be on turning the corner to turbo-charge GDP growth.

“House prices are rising, inflation fell in February, and the base rate is expected to come down further this year. These are all positives, highlighting that the property market remains bouyant, and this is important given how significant the sector’s contribution to GDP is. In future statements and budgets, we need the Chancellor to focus more energy on supporting homebuyers and borrowers, which will further stimulate growth in the market.”

Tim Parkes, CEO of RAW Capital Partners, said: “It might not have the standing of the Autumn Budget, but the Spring Statement was an opportunity for the government to set out a bold vision for growth nonetheless. However, today’s speech highlighted that there remains a keen focus on fixing legacy issues, both with the state of the economic and within the property sector, most notably where housebuilding is concerned. This is, of course, important. But the UK also needs a more proactive and forward-thinking strategy to meaningfully encourage economic growth.

“Creating the right conditions for investment should therefore be the government’s top priority if it hopes to attract both domestic and international capital. This means not just stabilising the economy and filling the fiscal blackhole, but fostering an environment where businesses and investors feel confident to commit to the UK for the long term.

“But the government can’t do it all on its own, so specialist lenders have a key role to play in facilitating overseas investment into UK property and contributing to a growing economy. By offering a tailored approach to lending and bespoke financial products, they can help international investors navigate the market with greater confidence, while reinforcing the UK’s position as a prime destination for investment.”