“We’ve simply got to build more homes, whether they’re to rent or to buy, so they’re cheap enough for everyone to afford. I’m delighted my discussions with the chancellor about overhauling our slow, expensive, uncertain and conflict-ridden planning laws have made it into today’s budget.
“Building up not out will unlock huge numbers of new urban housebuilding sites, and the idea is supported by almost every housing association, so there’ll be enough financial muscle, construction skills and networks of local building suppliers to turn those new sites into homes much faster than before.
“It’s also greener, because we don’t have to concrete over more green fields. We’ll breathe fresh life into hard-pressed traditional town centres and create mansion blocks, Georgian terraces and mews houses rather than controversial sky-high tower blocks, so that our towns and cities will become prettier too.”