Chancellor Rachel Reeves' first speech

Bjorn Howard, Group CEO at Aster Group, said:

“Addressing the housing shortage is one of the fundamental challenges of our time. Housing targets can help set the right tone and we fully support the Chancellor pledging to reintroduce them.

“It’s vital that we quickly understand what sits beneath those targets - solving the housing crisis will require us to build a broad variety of homes to suit specific local needs. We welcomed the government’s manifesto pledge to prioritise private and social rent, but affordable alternatives to home ownership like shared ownership will be essential as well.

“The Chancellor mentioned sustainable economic growth in her speech. For our sector, that requires the ability to make long-term plans – certainty and stability in areas like social rent will be essential to us planning for, and meeting, the evolving needs of our customers and Labour’s fresh build targets.

“This government looks to have put affordability at the core of its housing strategy. Housing associations will play a central role in these ambitions, and in getting more people on the housing ladder. We look forward to working with the new administration to build the social, affordable and shared ownership homes that will be essential in meeting the UK’s renewed delivery targets.”

ENDS