Looser planning rules to crease 250,000 new homes, the creation of new enterprise zones and a new £250m plan to help first-time house buyers called Firstbuy Direct are among measures George Osborne, chancellor of the exchequer, is expected to unveil in today’s Budget.
The Financial Times says relaxed planning laws conflict with giving power to local communities, that often want to restrict development in their own back yard. The Times says the government is likely to extend again the suspension of stamp duty for first-time buyer on properties costing £250,000 or less. The Daily Telegraph says, however, the relief could be scrapped. The newspaper also says planning reforms are likely to leave the chancellor open to accusations that he is concreting over the green belt.
23/03/11 Financial Times 1, 3
Times 1, 2, 4, 5, 34, 35
Daily Telegraph 1, B4, B5
Guardian 12, 13
Independent 13
