<p>The chancellor <span>Kwasi Kwarteng</span> has announced a “permanent cut” to stamp duty as part of measures in the government’s mini-Budget announced this morning (September 23).</p> <p><span>To “support growth and help families”, the chancellor announced a raise of the threshold for stamp duty payments on properties from £125,000 to £250,000.</span></p> <p><span>The threshold of first time buyer payments on stamp duty has also been raised to £425,000. Additionally, the value of the property on which first time buyers can claim relief has increased from £500,000 to £625,000.</span></p> <p><span>Kwarteng said these measures meant “200,000 more people will be taken out of stamp duty. This is a permanent cut effective from today.” </span></p> <p><span>The chancellor also said the government would enable planning reform by increasing the disposal of government land “to increase the number of homes”. </span></p> <p>He also announced that the government would create new “investment zones” and that discussions were underway in up to 40 areas across England including the Tees Valley, the West Midlands, Norfolk and the west of England. These zones will see liberalised planning rules, reduced regulation and tax incentives including no stamp duty on land purchases for residential use.</p> <p>Additional measures – in what is said to be …