Labour councils build 1300 homes each more than Conservative councils

Labour councils have out-built Tory councils by an average of over 1,300 new homes each since 2010, new research released by Labour reveals.

House of Commons Library analysis, commissioned by Labour, shows that in Conservative-led local authority areas, 2,464 new homes were started on average between 2010 and 2017, while Labour councils started building 3,791 homes on average – 54% more their Conservative counterparts.

The figures also show that, even with deep Conservative cuts and heavy-handed restrictions, Labour councils built 93 council homes on average, almost five times as many as Conservative councils.

The new figures come as Labour are due to announce plans for a council house building revolution with the launch of their Social Housing Review on Monday.

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, said:

“Labour in power means more homes for local people, and Labour councils across the country are already delivering more of the homes their communities need.

“After eight years of failure, the Conservatives have no plan to fix the housing crisis. From falling home-ownership to rising homelessness, housing pressures are getting worse.

“With the Conservatives in power at Westminster, the best hope for millions of people across the country is more Labour councils and councillors elected on 3rd May.”

Ends

Notes to editors

• The figures are presented below. They are taken from official Government figures as presented in HCLG live table 253, and analysed by the House of Commons Library: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/692707/LiveTable253.xlsx