Insiders warn Burnham's council-house plan may fall short

Andy Burnham's pledge to launch the biggest council-house building programme since WWII has sparked fears it could deliver fewer homes than the current Labour government's £39bn social and affordable housing scheme. Insiders warn that redirecting all funds to council homes could derail the existing programme and reduce output, as social rent homes are more expensive to fund. Regional authorities' capacity to manage such a large programme is also questioned. Burnham proposes a 10-year plan based on Finland's 'housing first' model, which has reduced homelessness.