The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors has reacted to the Chancellors plans for housing as announced in the Budget.

housefund.co.uk – Thursday, March 13th, 2008

On the issue of the delivery of 200,000 new homes on public sector land, RICS said: “The Government has committed to achieving the delivery of 200,000 new homes on surplus public sector land by 2016, and the Budget announces that the Government has firmly identified sites on central government surplus land with potential for 70,000 new homes.

RICS believes the commitment to making public sector land available for housebuilding is necessary, but will only solve part of the land supply issues if we are to achieve the Government’s housebuilding targets.

Identifying sites for 70,000 new homes is a drop in the ocean when two million additional homes need to be built by 2016.

Encouraging the re-use of existing buildings and allowing well managed development on Greenfield sites must also be encouraged if housing targets are to be met. ” full article