CIH responds to Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021

Earlier today (27 October 2021) the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak delivered his Autumn Budget and Spending Review to Parliament.

Responding to the announcement Sarah Davis, CIH's senior policy and practice officer said:

"Today’s budget and spending review largely confirmed the welcome announcements made previously for the housing sector. This includes investment of £11.5 billion in new homes through the Affordable Homes programme, £1.8 billion for brownfield site development, plus investment in retrofitting as part the net zero carbon agenda.

"The government has also recognised the need to continue investing to tackle rough sleeping with a commitment of £640 million – ‘Everyone In’ demonstrated what can be achieved with adequate investment and commitment.

"The announcement of the Universal Credit adjustment to work tapers and increased work allowances will be a significant change for working families. It will offset the rapidly increasing cost of living. The commitment to bring this in before the end of the year is very welcome. Although good news, it does still leave many households that cannot work facing real hardship, even with the additional £200 million for the Supporting Families Fund.

"More broadly, when we have a pressing need for more homes and especially the most affordable for social rent (100,000 across the UK as CIH set out in our submission), the absence of new investment for social housing today is disappointing. Research recently published by CIH and Centre for Homelessness Impact revealed how much more investment into more social homes could save in the long term.

"And it is not yet clear how many of the expected 160,000 homes on brownfield development sites will be affordable and social rented homes."