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Cameron promises 200,000 starter homes if Tories win election Cameron promises 200,000 starter homes if Tories win election
(35 minutes later)
Some 200,000 homes will be made available to first-time buyers in England by 2020 if the Tories win the election, David Cameron is to promise.Some 200,000 homes will be made available to first-time buyers in England by 2020 if the Tories win the election, David Cameron is to promise.
The coalition government has already announced plans for 100,000 cut-price homes for people aged under 40.The coalition government has already announced plans for 100,000 cut-price homes for people aged under 40.
The PM says the Tories will double that if they gain power, to give more people the security of owning their own home.The PM says the Tories will double that if they gain power, to give more people the security of owning their own home.
Labour has pledged to build 200,000 new homes a year by 2020. The Lib Dems have set out plans to build 300,000. Labour said the plan was inadequate and housing groups warned affordable rented schemes would lose out as a result.
First-time buyers under the age of 40 in England can now register to buy new homes at a discount of up to 20% off the normal price.First-time buyers under the age of 40 in England can now register to buy new homes at a discount of up to 20% off the normal price.
'Young people''Young people'
The offer is part of the government's new "starter homes" scheme to encourage home ownership and construction on previously used "brownfield" land.The offer is part of the government's new "starter homes" scheme to encourage home ownership and construction on previously used "brownfield" land.
The 20% discount is achieved by waiving the fees homebuilders have to pay to local authorities of at least £45,000 per dwelling on brownfield sites.The 20% discount is achieved by waiving the fees homebuilders have to pay to local authorities of at least £45,000 per dwelling on brownfield sites.
The Conservatives say homes worth £250,000 outside London - or £450,000 in London - would be eligible for the scheme and that first-time buyers would have to repay the 20% price advantage if they sold within five years.The Conservatives say homes worth £250,000 outside London - or £450,000 in London - would be eligible for the scheme and that first-time buyers would have to repay the 20% price advantage if they sold within five years.
The Conservatives are now also proposing to change existing planning rules to allow councils to include discounted starter homes in the obligations expected of developers, alongside social housing and properties sold at full market value. The Conservatives are now also proposing to change existing planning rules to allow councils to include discounted starter homes among the obligations expected of developers, alongside social housing and properties sold at full market value.
The party believes the change will give councils and builders more flexibility about the make-up of new developments and make more brownfield sites - including land owned by the public sector - viable for development. The party believes this change will give councils and builders more flexibility about the make-up of new developments and make more brownfield sites - including land owned by the public sector - viable for development.
In a speech in Essex, Mr Cameron will say there is "a particular kind of security that comes with having a home". In a speech in Essex, Mr Cameron will say there is "a particular kind of security that comes with having a home" that "too many people have been denied".
"Too many people have been denied that security," he will argue. "The young people in their 20s and 30s still living with their parents, desperately saving for their own place. "The young people in their 20s and 30s still living with their parents, desperately saving for their own place. The couple who want a child but can't afford to upsize - even though they both have full-on, full-time jobs. It shouldn't be this way.
"The couple who want a child but can't afford to upsize - even though they both have full-on, full-time jobs. It shouldn't be this way.
"Our goal is a Britain where everyone who works hard can have a home of their own.""Our goal is a Britain where everyone who works hard can have a home of their own."
'Not shoe boxes''Not shoe boxes'
He will say the scheme will ensure the new homes are not "snapped up by buy-to-let landlords" and that some of Britain's biggest builders including Barratt and Taylor Wimpey have already signed up for it.He will say the scheme will ensure the new homes are not "snapped up by buy-to-let landlords" and that some of Britain's biggest builders including Barratt and Taylor Wimpey have already signed up for it.
"We've shown what we expect starter homes to look like - not rabbit hutches or shoe boxes, but decent, well-built, homes with gardens - places to start and raise a family."We've shown what we expect starter homes to look like - not rabbit hutches or shoe boxes, but decent, well-built, homes with gardens - places to start and raise a family.
"So we are going to take this good idea and accelerate it.""So we are going to take this good idea and accelerate it."
Labour said the government had presided over the lowest levels of house building since the 1920s and home ownership was at its lowest level for three decades. But Labour said the government had presided over the lowest levels of house building since the 1920s and home ownership was at its lowest level for three decades.
"Yesterday the Conservative Party chairman went on TV in an effort to convince people they had a plan for housing, but instead, he couldn't answer basic questions about where the money will come from or how their latest pie-in-the-sky scheme will work," Ed Miliband will say later. Speaking at an event in Brighton, Labour leader Ed Miliband said there would be "no greater priority" for an incoming Labour government than housing.
"In contrast, Labour has a comprehensive housing plan, not unfunded promises."
Summary of other parties' housing policies:Summary of other parties' housing policies:
The National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations in England, expressed concern that the scheme would be funded by cutting the amount of money given to councils to support affordable rented housing.The National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations in England, expressed concern that the scheme would be funded by cutting the amount of money given to councils to support affordable rented housing.
"It is basically taking money away from people who are renting and giving it to first-time buyers," Henry Gregg told the BBC."It is basically taking money away from people who are renting and giving it to first-time buyers," Henry Gregg told the BBC.
All parties, he said, needed to show leadership to "end the housing crisis within a generation" by securing new investment for affordable, social and starter homes.All parties, he said, needed to show leadership to "end the housing crisis within a generation" by securing new investment for affordable, social and starter homes.
Housing charity Shelter said 250,000 new homes were required every year and the scheme was only a "small step" towards meeting that need.
The number of houses being built in the UK fell during the final three months of 2014 - the first such decline for almost two years.The number of houses being built in the UK fell during the final three months of 2014 - the first such decline for almost two years.
However, the government says 137,000 homes were started in 2014 - a rise of 10% on the previous year and up 36% on 2012.However, the government says 137,000 homes were started in 2014 - a rise of 10% on the previous year and up 36% on 2012.
The government has extended the Help to Buy scheme in England launched in 2013 - intended to help those trying to get on the housing ladder who could afford mortgage repayments but were struggling to raise a deposit - until 2020.The government has extended the Help to Buy scheme in England launched in 2013 - intended to help those trying to get on the housing ladder who could afford mortgage repayments but were struggling to raise a deposit - until 2020.