The Queen's parliamentary address yesterday outlined the government's priority for stabilising the economy through a variety of measures related to investment in industry, technology and private sector enterprise.

However, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is keen to ensure housing remains one of the government’s top priorities in restoring growth.

Grainia Long, Chief Executive, said: "It is imperative that housing takes centre stage in helping stimulate the economy.

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"Investing in house building has a positive multiplier effect on communities and on employers, and can be delivered quickly. It brings employment and expands to benefit more than just those the homes are built to serve.

"It is essential people are able to access appropriate housing, at a price they can afford and in the right location to enable them to gain employment.

"It is our aim to ensure housing remains one of the main drivers in stimulating growth and we need to be mindful that regardless of the proposed Bills in today’s speech, we still need to keep housing on the agenda in order to debate issues such as the future of housing finance; incentives for investment; tax levers and problems related to local authorities’ capacity to deliver these reforms over the next year."

(CD/GK)