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Tories in affordable housing plan Tories in affordable housing plan
(about 7 hours later)
Low-income families and others battling to buy a home would be given a hand onto the property ladder under plans to be unveiled by the Conservatives. The Tories have claimed low-income families and others battling to buy a home would be given a helping hand if they were to gain power at Holyrood.
Ahead of May's Holyrood elections, the party will reveal plans for affordable homes trusts, worth £100m each year. The party wants to introduce local Affordable Homes Trusts (AHTs), which would be worth £100m a year.
Under the scheme, government would contribute one-third of funding and the private sector would provide the rest.Under the scheme, government would contribute one-third of funding and the private sector would provide the rest.
Would-be homeowners could apply for assistance and would share property ownership with the trusts.Would-be homeowners could apply for assistance and would share property ownership with the trusts.
The party also said it would release more land for housing, while simultaneously protecting the green belt, if they win the Scottish Parliament elections on 3 May. The party also said it would release more land for housing, while simultaneously protecting the green belt, if it won the Scottish Parliament elections on 3 May.
To cut housing costs they said they intended to set up a grant scheme to help householders install energy saving systems like solar heating or wind turbines. To cut housing costs the Tories said they intended to set up a grant scheme to help householders install energy-saving systems such as solar heating or wind turbines.
It will give these communities a vehicle by which they can actually try themselves to expand affordable housing Annabel GoldieScottish Conservative leader
Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "The main difference between our scheme and what's currently on offer is that we're trying to bring forward a proposal that will go right to the heart of many of our communities in Scotland.
"It will give these communities a vehicle by which they can actually try themselves to expand affordable housing."
The Tory leader admitted that the number of trusts which would be created remains unclear.
Social housing
She added: "That would depend on uptake. We might find that once launched communities immediately wanted to get up and running with this and that would be great.
"But at the end of the day, it's very much for local demand to determine."
However, Liberal Democrat communities spokesman Jamie Stone dismissed the plans and said the Tories "depleted" the social housing stock when they were last in power through right of council tenants to buy their property.
He added: "Their new change of heart, however welcome, is irrelevant as they have ruled themselves out of government after the election."
The Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MSP said the Lib Dems have pledged to deliver innovative new schemes such as community land trusts which will provide affordable homes to buy for those on medium to low incomes.