With council housing lists in Crawley now 30 years long, Labour pledges a “housing revolution” with the biggest council house building programme for decades.

Labour’s manifesto launched today (Thursday) will include new plans for the biggest council and social housing programme in decades to transform the lives of millions of people struggling to afford a decent home because of the housing crisis.

The new plans will be paid for with funding from Labour’s Social Transformation Fund. Half of Labour’s Social Transformation Fund – around £75bn over five years – will be allocated to housing.

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

Labour Parliamentary Candidate and Council Leader, Peter Lamb has welcomed the proposals: “As Leader at Crawley Council, addressing the desperate need for truly affordable housing in Crawley has been an absolute priority. That’s why I was so proud to show the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing around the brand new truly affordable housing we have delivered in Crawley when he visited last week. 

“But even working as hard as we can, without changes in central government policy it will take another 30 years to house the 1,329 people we currently have on our waiting list. Those changes are now a core part of Labour policy.” 

“A vote for Labour on 12 December is a vote for real change to real lives.”

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 incomes in every area of the country. 

“Our modern council and social housing will be built to cutting-edge design and green standards providing a long-term investment in our country’s future.”