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Council home plans to be unveiled Council home plans to be unveiled
(about 2 hours later)
Plans to boost the supply of social housing outlined by Gordon Brown on Monday are to be spelt out later.Plans to boost the supply of social housing outlined by Gordon Brown on Monday are to be spelt out later.
In a speech in Harrogate, housing minister John Healey is due to announce to local government leaders the outcome of a council housing finance review.In a speech in Harrogate, housing minister John Healey is due to announce to local government leaders the outcome of a council housing finance review.
Changes could see councils returning to large-scale home building.Changes could see councils returning to large-scale home building.
Meanwhile, the Communities Department has said its £750m contribution to fund affordable homes, signalled by No 10, has not been finalised. Mr Brown announced a consultation was under way to decide whether to allow councils to keep all the money raised from council house sales and rent.
Priority to locals In the Commons on Monday, the prime minister also proposed to let councils in England give local people more priority on housing waiting lists.
It had been suggested that half of the £1.5bn needed to pay for 110,000 new affordable homes by 2011 would come from government departments with an underspend, including the Home Office, transport and health.
The other half, Number 10 said, would be covered by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
But the DCLG is insisting no exact amount has been agreed yet and details will be announced at a later date.
During Monday's launch of his Building Britain's Future policy document, Mr Brown announced a consultation was under way to decide whether to allow councils to keep all the money raised from council house sales and rent.
The prime minister also proposed to let councils in England give local people more priority on housing waiting lists.
'Unmet demand''Unmet demand'
Currently, council tenants' rent and proceeds from right-to-buy sales go into a national pot for redistribution.Currently, council tenants' rent and proceeds from right-to-buy sales go into a national pot for redistribution.
Some councils get money back while others have to pay a negative subsidy to the government.Some councils get money back while others have to pay a negative subsidy to the government.
But if ministers support plans to let councils keep their money locally, councils may be able to build and repair more homes.But if ministers support plans to let councils keep their money locally, councils may be able to build and repair more homes.
In the past two decades, very few homes have been built by councils as housing associations have been the main providers of social housing.In the past two decades, very few homes have been built by councils as housing associations have been the main providers of social housing.
BBC local government correspondent John Andrew said he did not expect a return to the kind of mass council house building in the 1950s and 1960s.BBC local government correspondent John Andrew said he did not expect a return to the kind of mass council house building in the 1950s and 1960s.
But the latest measures would go some way to meeting the huge unmet demand for social housing as the number on housing waiting lists approaches 5 million, our correspondent added.But the latest measures would go some way to meeting the huge unmet demand for social housing as the number on housing waiting lists approaches 5 million, our correspondent added.