The Budget

Chancellor Gordon Brown addressed several housing isues in his final budget

Green Measures: Untill 2012 all new zero carbon homes up to £500,000 will be exempt from stamp duty; before 2012 the government with review whether an extension should be granted. Brown has asked energy regulator Ofgem to examine how green homes could benefit more from using clean energyand selling it back to the grid. Microgeneration grantsfor homes through the low carbons buildings programme have been increased by 50% to £18 million, with pensioners able to draw on grants of £300 to £4000 to inprove insulation. The chancellor has asked european ministers to consider reducing VAT on green products from 17.5% to 5%. He also increased landfill tax by £8 and the aggregates levy from £1.60 to £1.95 per tonne, from 2008