MP fears cuts will hit family homes

A Yorkshire MP fears the construction of thousands of new council houses pledged by the previous Government is now under threat from the cost-cutting coalition.

By The Newsroom

Published 11th Jun 2010, 11:53 BST

Updated 11th Jun 2010, 11:53 BST

York MP Hugh Bayley has written to Conservative housing minister Grant Shapps asking for assurances that 21 new council-owned homes planned for the city will still be built in spite of the sweeping cuts being made in key departmental budgets.

Labour had announced the biggest council house-building programme in 20 years, with 4,000 new homes to be built over a two-year period.

In January York Council was promised 1.25m to build 21 family homes in the Burdyke area of Clifton, with the authority agreeing to match the Government grant pound for pound. But Mr Bayley said: "I am very concerned.

"I have written to the housing minister to seek his assurance that York will receive the funding for the properties in Clifton. York badly needs more family housing."