Title

HOUSING

Councils back Right to Buy reforms but seek more flexibility

Reforms to Right to Buy (RtB) have given councils greater confidence in protecting and growing their housing stock, according to a Local Government Association (LGA) survey.

Social housing (c) Nigel J. Harris/Shutterstock

Social housing (c) Nigel J. Harris/Shutterstock

Reforms to Right to Buy (RtB) have given councils greater confidence in protecting and growing their housing stock, according to a Local Government Association (LGA) survey.

Last year's changes reduced discounts and increased flexibility over how councils could use receipts. 

Nearly half of councils (48%) now feel more positive about housebuilding and a quarter said new schemes have been unlocked.

However, many authorities cited ongoing Housing Revenue Account constraints, with 52% unable to progress new projects.

The LGA, alongside the County Councils' Network and District Councils' Network, urged the Government to ‘go further to ensure that local government is fully empowered to deliver the homes we desperately need' including by allowing individual councils to fix discount levels.

 

HOUSING

How can we make neighbourhood health work?

By Lee Peart | 10 July 2026

Healthcare leaders discussed local and national levers needed to scale and sustain healthy neighbourhoods at the LGA Conference and Exhibition in Bournemouth...

HOUSING

County Councils Network: The local government priorities for Burnham's premiership

By Simon Edwards | 09 July 2026

Simon Edwards says Andy Burnham has begun fleshing out what his premiership could look like, while the County Councils Network will be advocating for funding...

HOUSING

Charting a path through the latest challenges

By Kristy Alexander | 09 July 2026

Kristy Alexander looks at the sector challenges being addressed at this year's LGA Conference.

HOUSING

Bringing dynamism into devolution

By Mike Emmerich | 08 July 2026

Mike Emmerich introduces his new review focused on building growth-capable strategic authorities and sets out why institutional capacity is now the defining ...

Popular articles by William Eichler