Housebuilders have welcomed the Budget measures as a “shot in the arm” for the industry. <br> <br> This boost to housebuilding includes the announcement of the FirstBuy scheme – an initiative allowing the sale of 10,000 new homes to first time buyers. <br> <br> Several planning measures were detailed in the government’s Plan for Growth paper published alongside the Budget, including a presumption in favour of sustainable development and pro-growth plans.<br> <br> The Growth paper also included the government’s commitment to reducing the regulatory burden, and changes to the zero carbon policy to ensure cost effectiveness were announced. <br> <br> Government also pledged to work with local authorities to release public sector land, and remove barriers to entry and investment in REITs (real estate investment trust). <br> <br> HBF applauded the “shot in the arm” announcements for housing: “Moves to address the major constraints to homebuilding – the lack of mortgage availability, the planning system and over-regulation – as consistently called for by HBF, begin to meet the firm commitment by government to increase housing supply, address the housing shortage and create tens of thousands of jobs,” executive chairman Stewart Baseley said. <br> <br> Ian Baker, group md of Linden …