Built environment professionals respond to the Autumn Budget

Experts from the property industry and built environment have responded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s 2025 Autumn Budget that took place earlier this week.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) said set against forecasts of weaker productivity growth and a rising tax burden, the Budget focused largely on revenue-raising measures to stabilise government finances and deliver manifesto commitments, with few major surprises.

Alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published their updated forecasts for the economy and public finances for the next five years.

RIBA President Chris Williamson said: “Today’s Budget held no surprises, favouring steady measures to stabilise public finances rather than bold action to unlock growth.

“Fresh funding to recruit additional planners is welcome, but this alone is far from what’s needed to speed up the system.

“Far more substantial investment is required to increase both capacity and access to skills, including design skills.

“This will ensure that new development is high-quality and meets the needs of our communities.

“Investment also means very little without the talent to deliver it.

“We welcome the government’s recognition of the value of apprenticeships and await detail on fully-funded SME places for eligible under-25s.

“ But if it is serious about building the talent pipeline, support must extend to Level 7 built environment professionals, as we have called for.

“Our priority is clear: to continue to work with government to drive growth and create a better built environment for everyone.”

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said its members recognised the significant challenges facing the Government and the need for a difficult financial balancing act.

RICS welcomed the continued commitment to major infrastructure projects and skills across the country.

It said announcement of free training for all apprentices up to the age of 25 at SMEs would help young people to gain critical experience, including in the built and natural environment sector and should help expand the surveying pipeline.

The government’s continued commitment to improving the business rates system was necessary, but meaningful and wholesale reform was still needed.

RICS said business rates must be reflective of a modern economy, and those that require physical assets should only pay a fair and proportionate share of the burden.

Scrapping the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme with no prospect of an alternative mechanism had the potential to hamper the country’s ambition to tackle the UK’s retrofit burden.

RICS said there was a need for catalysing a market for retrofitting existing homes to meet net emissions targets and creating the high-paying jobs of the future.

Recent RICS research highlighted the potential risk of the application of National Insurance at a rate of two per cent to landlord income.

The findings indicated that these tax changes could encourage landlords to reconsider their investment in the market, which could have a knock-on effect of increased costs to tenants.

RICS chief executive, Justin Young, said: “The government faces many challenges, and RICS recognises the difficult balancing act it must play.

“There are positive moves, such as new support for apprentices under the age of 25, which should hopefully expand the pipeline of new talent into the surveying profession.

“It is encouraging that the government is prioritising necessary reforms to the business rates system, and we are committed to supporting this effort through our members’ expertise.

“While these changes are welcome, there are several measures which may weaken the housing market, such as raising tax on dividends, property, and savings income by two per cent.

“Furthermore, it seems that commitments to sustainability are weakening.

“RICS is working with the government to mitigate these effects and help it deliver its objectives.”