New government plans 'not enough'

Housing minister Caroline Flint has announced new plans to help increase home ownership in Britain, but they have been criticised for not going far enough.

Ms Flint said that £100 million was being dedicated to the targeted building of 75,000 affordable new homes in specific areas, while public-private partnerships have been announced to encourage councils to provide surplus land for building new homes (of which 50 per cent must be affordable).

The minister also said there would be £510 million in incentives to councils to make land available.

However, Gideon Amos, chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association, argued that more could be done.

He said: "Measures now need to go further in ensuring Local Housing Companies deliver on their promise and that in key locations, including eco-towns, well planned development is now realised."

Those seeking to solve the housing situation for themselves may undertake a plot search to seek their own space for a self build project, rather than wait for their local council to provide new building land.