Local councils could potentially double the amount that they can legally invest from their pension funds and pour it directly into infrastructure to support new home building, communities secretary Eric Pickles has announced.<br> <br> This is one of the proposals suggested as part of the Department for Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) consultation – Local Government Pension Scheme: Investment in Partnerships.<br> <br> Under current pension fund rules, local councils are restricted in the amount that they can invest through partnership arrangements, to ensure that tax payers are protected long-term.<br> <br> "By lifting the restrictions controlling local pension investment, councils could pump a further £22 billion directly into job creating infrastructure that will boost our economy," said Pickles. The consultation runs until December 18. <br>