Guidelines have been issued to builders' merchants in the wake of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Issued by the Builders' Merchants Federation (BMF), the information showed that many high profile schemes will still be undertaken as the cuts make their mark across society.

They showed that the Decent Homes programme will continue, although full details of funding were not given. Also, the New Homes Bonus scheme will go ahead, but again fresh information on the scheme was not offered.

However, the BMF said that plans to build 150,000 homes over four years would not meet the demands of housing waiting lists - on which five million people are sitting across the country.

The organisation added that the numbers would also make it difficult to ensure work for many builders.

Also the BMF highlighted the Spending Review's lack of a clear planning policy guidance amid the scrapping of Regional Spatial Strategies and the housing targets.

But from next April the Renewable Heat Incentive will offer subsidies for solar, pump or biomass heat - with £860 million available.

However, from 2013 feed-in tariffs for electricity microgeneration will be slashed by £40 million. Until then they will remain at their current rate.

It was also announced that the Warm Front scheme will be phased out. The scheme, which provides insulation grants for vulnerable people, will go ahead of the new Green Deal legislation.

Copyright Press Association 2010