A housebuilder has welcomed a number of housing policies announced by three of the main political parties ahead of the general election, saying they will "go a long way" to providing first time-buyers with "drastically needed" support.

However, Pye Homes, based in Kidlington, also said more has to be done to stabilise mortgage rates and encourage people to choose energy-efficient homes.

Managing director, Graham Flint, said: "We welcome the announcement by the Conservatives of a Help to Buy Scheme, and a similar Freedom to Buy initiative by Labour.

Graham FlintGraham Flint (Image: Pye Homes)

"More help is drastically needed to help first-time buyers get their feet on the property ladder, and such initiatives, coupled with the Conservative pledge to increase the Stamp Duty threshold for first-time buyers to £425,000, will go a long way to doing that.

“We are also pleased to hear the Liberal Democrats and Labour both pledging to reform planning outcomes to address the shortfall in the number of new homes being built.

“However, successive governments have known that too few homes are being built, and have subsequently set annual targets that are almost impossible to achieve.

"If we are to ever hit these targets and solve the UK’s housing shortage, the next government needs to work with housebuilders such as Pye Homes and listen to the industry.”

The housebuilder has created an ‘Election Wishlist’ which includes rejuvenating the first-time buyer market with a new scheme, extending the stamp duty tax relief, and reforming the planning system.