CBI responds to Prime Minister's speech on housing

Neil Carberry, CBI Managing Director for Infrastructure and People, said:

“Solving the UK’s housing shortage gets a tougher nut to crack with each passing year. For Britain’s businesses, it is far from something confined to the news columns or political speeches. It’s a problem that impacts them day in, day out – from high prices barring people moving home and deterring them from applying or staying in a job, to the dent it puts in productivity.

“But it’s not impossible to crack. By fundamentally shaking up the way business and the Government think about and deliver the UK’s housing needs and by ditching a “one size fits all” approach, we can get on and build the right homes in the right places that fit the actual needs of people and communities. If we do this, we will take a significant and meaningful step towards building 300,000 new houses a year.

“It’s encouraging the Government is looking to further improve the planning system, including maximising the use of land and ensuring the sorely needed diverse mix of homes is built. Businesses, the Government and Local Authorities must work collaboratively to develop new homes across the country, as well as the infrastructure – such as roads and schools – to fully suppor