Budget will create construction jobs, says CBI

The CBI has welcomed yesterday’s Budget as one that will help create work and jobs in the construction sector.

It applauded several of the Chancellor’s announcements, including the creation of a two-year public sector pipeline to give firms better foresight of future work.

Dr Neil Bentley, CBI deputy director-general, said: “The CBI welcomes the government’s two-year programme for infrastructure and construction. A longer-term pipeline will also boost confidence over future revenues, allow greater innovation and enable the industry to reduce cost.”

“This is a Budget that will help businesses grow and create jobs, and the Chancellor announced a number of measures to help boost the UK’s construction pipeline and speed up the planning process,” he said.

Like many other commentators, the CBI saw the Budget as a boost for housebuilders, with a £250m shared equity scheme created for first time buyers that the government said could create 10,000 homes.

“In the short-term, the Firstbuy Direct initiative will inject much needed confidence into the housing market and create new house-building jobs. However, funding for the scheme only runs until the end of next year and in the longer-term we need an approach which meets our growing housing needs,” Bentley said.

It also welcomed the new presumption in favour of sustainable development, which could boost building.

“We welcome the government’s action on a presumption in favour of sustainable development, as this would lead to a pro-growth planning system,” Bentley continued.