PM accused over affordable housing

Posted: 01 Apr 2008 10:58:38 GMT

Gordon Brown has been accused of sending out mixed messages over affordable housing in the UK.

Gordon Brown has been accused of sending out mixed messages over affordable housing in the UK.

Despite urging the house construction industry to build more affordable properties, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said that the government is hampering their efforts.

The organisation has accused the prime minister of imposing taxes and restrictive laws on constructors.

As a result, said the FMB, it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the affordable homes targets set out by the government.

"On the one hand they point the finger at the building industry and demand more affordable housing, and with the other it lays down rules and imposes taxes which make houses more and more expensive to build," said FMB director of external affairs Brian Berry.

"Trying to get planning permission is already an expensive, lengthy and inefficient process, and the government needs to understand that the more expensive they make it, the less affordable the resulting houses become which is bad news for all those wanting and deserving an affordable home," he continued.

The government has pledged to build three million new homes by 2020.

© Houseladder Ltd