Steve Brine and Winchester City Council Leader Caroline Horrill have welcomed plans to scrap the current cap on how much local authorities can borrow against the value of their housing stock.
Steve Brine said: “Conservative-run Winchester City Council has a strong record on providing affordable housing, including council housing, across the district, but we recognise that the need for affordable housing across the Winchester district has never been greater.
“I, and colleagues in Government, are clear that the borrowing cap has been a massive constraint on the council’s ability to build the houses we so desperately need, and I am delighted that this cap will now be scrapped.”
Cllr Caroline Horrill said: “Providing affordable housing is at the forefront of the council’s strategy. We have an ambitious plan to build 600 homes by 2020 and are constantly looking for ways to increase this number, including actively lobbying the government.
“Only last month, we submitted a bid for more than £25m of extra government funding in areas of high affordability pressure, and I am so pleased that the government’s plan to lift the borrowing cap entirely should allow us to build even more new homes so local people can enjoy the benefits of living in the district.”