This included the £10bn investment in the Help to Buy equity loan scheme and the £2bn boost for affordable housing.

Steve Turner of the House Builders Federation welcomed the policies: “The clear commitment to increase housing supply – from the prime minister down – was positive. 

“The additional money for Help to Buy – that has been so key to the big increases in housebuilding in recent years – was very welcome.”

Meanwhile, Rico Wojtulewicz, policy adviser at the House Builders Association, added: “The announcement of £2bn for affordable homes is also welcome, as diversification of the housing market is desperately required.”

A missed opportunity? 

Paul Riddell, head of marketing and communications at Lendy, said: “The proposals – while a small step in the right direction – are a missed opportunity to take some radical steps to move on new residential properties.

“A clearer vision on housebuilding would be welcome.”

Michael Dean, principal at Avamore Capital, added: "While the policies announced were hardly earth-shattering, the commitment to continuing Help to Buy-style guarantees on new-build properties is welcome, albeit only providing demand-side support. 

“Key planning and other supply-side reforms were not addressed properly."

Katy Katani of Zorin Finance added: “Going forward, what is needed is profound government action to encourage housebuilding, and Theresa May’s ‘big announcement’ on housing at the Conservative Party conference does not acknowledge this.”

‘Hugely underwhelming’

“The £2bn available for social housing amounts to an extra 25,000 homes between 2019 and 2021, which is underwhelming considering that there are 1.2 million households on social housing waiting lists according to Shelter,” claimed  Alexander Moss, operations manager at Zorin Finance.

•   Government to boost funding for affordable housing
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•   Government to invest £10bn in Help to Buy equity loan scheme

“It’s difficult to know who the policy was aimed at impressing, as Labour voters will accept nothing less than mass state-led building circa 1960s, and Conservative voters are hardly likely to be beguiled by the government spending more taxpayer money on more council houses.” 

Sam Howard, COO at Regentsmead, added: “I am beginning to sound like a broken record when it comes to commenting on the government’s housing policy, but the announcements that came out of last week’s conference were hugely underwhelming.”

What does the government need to look at? 

Sam felt that neither the Conservatives nor Labour understood that the supply issue – in terms of housing – had led to unaffordable house prices and high rents. 

“Labour’s plan for rent controls might make a good soundbite, however, history has proved time and time again that this will only restrict the stock of housing and accentuate the problem. 

“Likewise, the Tories blindly pumping more money into Help to Buy just increases house prices, enabling the lucky few to get on the housing ladder and make home ownership less obtainable for others.”

Sam wanted to see a concerted long-term housing policy from the government and hoped to see a planning policy that was fit for purpose.

Rico added that the fringe events at the conference covered the National Planning Policy Framework and social housing review, as well as the need to implement the housing white paper. 

“The government must now give a timeframe for these policy commitments and speedily implement them. 

“Housing associations are also looking for guidance regarding ‘Voluntary Right to Buy’.”

Paul had a number of polices he wanted to see the government introduce, from making sure that all land was registered with the Land Registry to a review of the green belt. 

“About 20% of the land in England and Wales isn’t registered, making it very difficult to find out who owns it. 

“That is a major barrier to purchases of land for housing.

“There are many sizeable parcels of land at the fringe of the green belt that are not as green, environmentally valuable or attractive as many people would assume.

“It would also be great to see the government incentivise local authorities more to approve new housing developments, perhaps by ring-fencing a percentage of the final price for local community benefit.”

Paul also wanted to see a broader review of Section 106 agreements, as well as incentives for older people to downsize. 

Meanwhile, Alex added: “Is it too much to expect a Conservative government to put forth exciting and principled Conservative policies such as relaxing planning requirements for SME builders building out small sites, or reducing SDLT liability for first-time buyers? 

“Builders build houses in order to make a profit, and so if the government makes it easier for builders to build more houses and make more profit, then this is what they will do. 

“However, none of the policies announced at the conference seemed to understand this basic fact.”