Senior figures from the residential development industry have hit out at the failure of the chancellor’s autumn statement to deliver any support to the struggling housebuilding industry, despite the OBR forecasting that build rates will drop sharply over the coming years.

The boss of the Home Builders Federation (HBF) described the statement as a “missed opportunity”, while other housebuilders described it as “bitterly disappointing” and said the failure to address planning in the statement meant there was zero chance of the government hitting housing targets.

…