Pre-Budget Report gets warm response

The Construction Products Association has broadly welcomed the Chancellor's spending plans following last week's Pre-Budget Report.

While describing the targeted 50% increase in new social housing provision to 45,000 per year homes by 2010-11 as "challenging" given the modest increase in capital spending, the association said the long-term commitment to improve transport infrastructure was encouraging.

Britpave, the transport infrastructure group, also expressed its satisfaction at the announcement to increase investment in transport infrastructure by 2.25% every year until 2018/19.

However, it warned that new motorway lanes must be constructed right first time. It is pushing for a continuously reinforced concrete pavement, covered with a layer of asphalt, to cope with intensive traffic weight.