Product manufacturers and architects search for positives in Budget

Aimed at achieving long-term, sustainable economic growth that delivers prosperity for the people of the United Kingdom, the Spring Budget breaks down barriers to work, unshackles business investment and tackles labour shortages head on, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said.

CPA Economics Director, Noble Francis, said: “Jeremy Hunt positioned his Spring Budget today as a plan to remove obstacles to investment, tackle labour shortages, break barriers to work and harness science and technology for growth.

“There were a few positives for the construction industry and wider supply chain with the Chancellor announcing large ambitions of £20 billion for Carbon Capture and Storage, £960 million for low-tax investment zones, £200 million for regeneration projects, £400 million for Levelling Up projects and £200 million for potholes.

"In light of the recently announced delays to HS2, however, the key to the impact of the Budget will be whether government can actually deliver on its announcements. The delays to HS2 announced just before the Budget will hit both infrastructure and economic activity in the near term and increase the cost of HS2 by billions in the medium term.

“The CPA welcomes the announcement on full expensing of business investment, which allows 100% of qualifying UK capital expenditure to be written off against taxable profits. This could help spur much-needed investment in capital expenditure and green investments for manufacturers. We also welcome the government’s announcement that it will launch a call for evidence on the critical issue of ‘nutrient neutrality’, which is currently delaying the delivery of 120,000 new homes. Government has said it will also provide funding to support clearer routes for housing developers to deliver ‘nutrient neutral’ sites. Addressing this critical issue will be crucial for developers and the whole house-building supply chain to ensure that more homes can be built each year.

“However, the lack of any government help for first-time buyers, which is critically needed after the sharp rise in mortgage rates and the substantial fall in housing demand since the Mini Budget in Autumn, means that there will be a significant double-digit fall in house building in the next 12-18 months.”

RIBA President Simon Allford welcomed the Chancellor's emphasis on levelling up in the Budget.

“Devolving power to local communities and funding for local regeneration projects both go a long way to answering the call we have long supported for more localised control of levelling up priorities,” he said.

“However, if the government wants to tackle the housing crisis, clear planning backlogs, and provide high quality, affordable housing for people across the country, we need much better resourced planning departments.

“We must also retrofit our existing housing stock – improving energy efficiency reduces household energy bills, creates green jobs and improves health outcomes. It also brings a sustained boost to the economy and is integral to the low carbon future.

“Unfortunately, adequate resources for planning departments and retrofitting were omitted from today’s announcement. If the government wants to achieve levelling up across the country, it must take bolder action on both.”