RICS in call for more spending on homes

The government should announce extra spending on a series of public building programmes to help safeguard construction jobs, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has argued.

Speaking ahead of the pre-Budget statement, the body stated that such projects - including the building of new homes - could save up to 300,000 jobs.

RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn suggested: "Bringing forward capital funding for vital projects will have the advantage of delivering much needed housing and infrastructure but will also go someway to preventing an employment crisis in the industry."

The addition of new homes could help first-time buyers looking for a place to live and potentially close the gap between the number of homes being built and government targets.

Last week London mayor Boris Johnson said some of his £5 billion housing budget for the next three years will be spent on the restarting of stalled housing construction schemes.