BMF responds to Chancellor’s Spending Review

25 November 2020

BMF CEO, John Newcomb said:

“The Chancellor was clear that the health emergency is not yet over and the economic emergency has only just begun.  We must be prepared for a challenging year ahead, but there was some welcome news within his statement.  

“In particular, we welcome the £20bn committed to underpin the Government’s long term housing strategy, confirmation of capital investment to deliver the Government’s commitments on building 40 hospitals and rebuilding 500 schools over the next decade,
and the multi-year funding required to deliver the Prime Minister's Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.  The latter includes a welcome 12 month extension for the Green Homes Grant, announced last week.

“However, we would have liked to hear the Chancellor go further and announce funding for a National Retrofit Strategy to turbo-charge the levelling-up of housing conditions throughout the country.   Pump-priming this work would undoubtedly improve lives, create jobs, boost the economy as well as making greater inroads towards the Government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050.”