The Liberal Democrat Spring Conference today backed measures to build 1.3 million new social homes over the next ten years. The plans aim to greatly reduce the waiting list for social housing which currently stands at over 1.6 million, up nearly 60 per cent since 1997. Other main proposals include:

• Invest all the proceeds from council house sales in building more social homes


• End the system of 'negative subsidy' where council tenants subsidise maintenance costs in other parts of the country


• Support Government-backed equity mortgages to help first time buyers get on the housing ladder


• Pilot Community Land Auctions to ensure that local people get the benefits of new development through improved infrastructure.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister Lembit Opik said:

"We must build faster and better with at least one million new affordable homes in the next ten years to solve Britain's housing crisis.

Successive governments have let social housing crumble. There are almost one million fewer social houses available now than during the last housing market crash. Without this crucial safety net, what will happen to the 45,000 families expected to have their homes repossessed this year?

The Liberal Democrat proposals will help families into homes that they can afford in communities that are sustainable."