There are a few mentions of planning and development in today's Autumn Statement - the guarantee of funding for the Northern Line extension as part of the Battersea project, announcements of extra funding for new housing - but the Chancellor's aim today seems to be to put a brave face on the economic recovery.

The housing crisis will continue unabated despite this statement because the key issue - supply of land in the places where  development is needed - remains unresolved. The debate over Green Belt land (or the lack of debate) in the past week has underlined that the Government is unable or unwilling to make the difficult choices that it expects local authorities to make when allocating land for development.

Meanwhile, austerity is set to continue until 2018 (and beyond?) and there is not much in the way of good news as Mr Osborne has again slashed his growth forecast in the face of economic uncertainty in Europe and wider world. The development industry stands ready to help counteract this but can only do so through constructive working with Government at all levels - from Parish Councils all the way up to the Treasury.

So, 2013 can be a year of strong recovery for the sector if we see the right decisions made on the right sites in the right places - actions speak louder than statements.