BUDGET WON'T CREATE A GREEN OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING MARKET - ÖPIK

4.59.53pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 12th Mar 2008

Responding to the proposals relating to housing announced in today's Budget, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister, Lembit Öpik said:

"Everyone shares the aim of helping first time buyers, but there's a long way to go between what's been promised and the Government's timid proposed solutions.

"The Liberal Democrats have long lobbied to increase the availability of shared equity schemes to encourage individuals to buy their own homes.

"But the current schemes are only helping a tiny fraction of those people in need, so the Government must aim to significantly widen access to these measures.

"Until we have a huge increase in the affordable housing stock and a better managed rental sector, some people will continue to suffer in intolerable crowded accommodation.

"As for the environmental budget, the Green Homes Service is only enough to affect only a few thousand homes. I hope this fund will be used to kick-start an innovative new scheme working with energy companies to make environmentally sustainable housing accessible and affordable to all."