Thousands of starter homes to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder will be built this year, ministers have announced.
The government has confirmed that 2017 will see the first starter homes being built on brownfield sites in 30 local authorities across the country.
The scheme will give first-time buyers between 23 and 40 years-old a discount of at least 20% below market value. The first homes are expected to be completed by 2018.
The £1.2 billion scheme was first announced in 2014 as part of a drive by the Government to get more people on the property ladder.
Outside of London discounts will be available for properties worth up to £250,000, while in London the discount will apply on properties worth up to £450,000.
The first 30 local authorities have been selected on the basis of their ability to build homes fast enough and include Blackpool Council, Bristol City Council, Liverpool City Council, Mid Sussex District Council and Middlesbrough Council.
Housing Minister Gavin Barwell said: “This government is committed to building starter homes to help young first time buyers get on the housing ladder.
“This first wave of partnerships shows the strong local interest to build thousands of starter homes on hundreds of brownfield sites in the coming years. One in three councils has expressed an interest to work with us so far.”
The Conservative Party pledged to build 200,000 starter homes as part of its election manifesto in 2015.
However, John Healey, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, cast doubts on the Government’s ability to meet this target.
He said: “These so-called ‘starter homes’ are a symbol of the Conservative record on housing.
“Ministers launched them in 2014, but will only start to build the first in 2017, promised they’d be affordable for young people when they’ll cost up to £450,000, and pledged to build 200,000 by 2020 but no-one now believes that’s possible.”
Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “It’s great to see the Housing Minister kick off 2017 by giving the green light to the first starter homes. These homes will help some first time buyers get a foot on the housing ladder, and our small house builders are enthusiastic about delivering on that vision, but starter homes will not be a panacea.
“A wider set of measures aimed at increasing the capacity of the house building industry are needed to overturn the long-term under-supply of new homes.”
