Brown attacked over affordable housing

Published: April 01, 2008

Gordon Brown has been urged to make his mind up when it comes to the provision of affordable housing.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has accused the prime minister of failing to adopt a string position on the issue.

According to the organisation, the government is urging house constructors to build more affordable homes, while making it more difficult for them to do so at the same time.

"On the one hand they point the finger at the building industry and demand more affordable housing, and with the other it lays down rules and imposes taxes which make houses more and more expensive to build," said Brian Berry from the FMB.

"Brown needs to stop having reviews, and start making decisions.

"Trying to get planning permission is already an expensive, lengthy and inefficient process, and the government needs to understand that the more expensive they make it, the less affordable the resulting houses become which is bad news for all those wanting and deserving an affordable home," he continued.

The government has pledged to build three million new homes by 2020.