Brown challenged over affordable homes

Prime minister Gordon Brown has been challenged to "follow through" on his pledge to create more affordable homes for those trying to get on the housing ladder.

A spokesman for housing associations body the National Housing Federation (NHF) has said it is very important that the promise is met.

He argued that housing associations should be given the power and money to deliver on these plans.

"But it also needs to make sure that land is released and made available for new housing," he added.

The lack of affordable housing is an issue which may prompt many to consider the self build option.

One of the causes of this lack is the large-scale buying of second homes, the NHF believes.

Speaking in Dorset, NHF chief executive David Orr said: "Dorset has the highest number of second homes in the country ", adding his forecast that this will lead to the average house price in the county rising to £316,000 by 2012, the Dorset Echo reports.


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