<p>The housebuilding industry has broadly welcomed measures announced in the Budget, including an extension to the stamp duty holiday to the end of June and the introduction of a mortgage guarantee scheme from April.</p> <p><span>“The extension of the stamp duty holiday is welcome and will allow people whose home completion has been delayed as a result of coronavirus to still take advantage, continuing to generate additional economic activity,” said Stewart Baseley, HBF’s executive chairman.</span></p> <p><span>“The mortgage guarantee scheme is also a positive step and should help maintain activity in the wider housing market and in turn generate movement with new build sales,” he continued. “As well as boosting demand in the market this should also create a supply-side impetus. We will work with lenders on how the scheme will operate for the new homes sector.”</span></p> <p><span>Matthew Pratt, ceo of Redrow, said that overall, the Budget gave hope for the UK’s recovery. “The stamp duty holiday extension will be welcome news to those buyers caught up in the home buying process and who may have otherwise missed out on a saving, and the element of tapering between June and September will also be welcome to a number of new market entrants.”</span></p><p></p> …