Labour and Lib Dems announce housing plans

Labour plans to build 100,000 council homes a year by the end of 2024 according to its election manifesto published today.

It will also build “at least” 50,000 additional genuinely affordable homes a year through housing associations by the end of the parliament

The party says the homes will be built to cutting edge design and green standards citing the Stirling Prize award winning Goldsmith Street council development in Norwich as an example of what Labour’s modern council housing could look like.

The announcement follows the Liberal Democrats commitment if elected to deliver 100,000 social rent units a year and require all new homes to reach Passivhaus standards from 2025.

The Lib Dem pledges are part of a £130 billion package of infrastructure investment that also includes a commitment to build 300,000 homes a year.

Labour says its plans will be paid for with funding from Labour’s Social Transformation Fund.

John Healey, Labour’s shadow housing secretary, said:

“The next Labour Government will kick start a housing revolution, with the biggest investment in new council and social homes this country has seen for decades.

“Labour’s transformational housing plans will mean thousands more genuinely affordable homes for people on ordinary …