Chancellor announces shake-up of planning, stamp duty changes and extra infrastructure cash

George Osborne has delivered his 鈥楤udget for growth鈥�, with a far-reaching package of measures designed to boost the construction sector.

The key announcements impacting on construction include:

  • A shake-up of planning, including a 鈥渘ew presumption in favour of sustainable development鈥�. Local authorities will also allow commercial property to be converted to housing without the need for planning permission - as expected.
  • Osborne confirmed a that will help the construction of 10,000 homes.
  • Stamp duty will be levied on mean value of homes rather than bulk to help the private rented sector.
  • due to 鈥渟avings鈥� at the transport department. Osborne offers 拢100m extra for filling winter potholes.
  • The Chancellor announced the creation of 21 new enterprise zones, including Birmingham, the Black Country, Leeds, Greater Manchester, Tyneside, Bristol, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Sheffield. A further 10 will be announced in the summer.
  • . The GIB will become fully fledged if the government meets its debt commitments.
  • The carbon floor price has been set at 拢16 from 2013, rising to 拢30 in 2020.

In the Plan for Growth, launched alongside the Budget, set to come in by 2016 by watering down its scope.

The Treasury said that energy used by appliances in homes will not have to be generated from renewable sources, and the zero carbon definition will only cover heating, lighting and water




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