Andy Burnham’s pledge to deliver the biggest council house building programme since the post-war era has raised fresh questions over how the ambitious plan would be funded and delivered.
The Labour leadership contender has promised a major expansion of affordable housing, including the release of surplus government land for new homes.
But leading audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg warned that key details remain unclear — particularly who will pay for the construction and how the homes would be sustained long term.
Heather Powell, a Partner at the firm, said the ambition for more council and affordable homes was widely supported but argued that major financial questions needed answering.
She questioned whether government-owned land would be located in areas where housing is most needed, whether rental income would cover construction costs and whether additional public subsidies would be required.
A further challenge is the future ownership of the properties.
Experts warned that without safeguards, new council homes could eventually be sold off under the Right to Buy scheme, repeating historic problems where replacement housing failed to match the number of homes lost.
The debate highlights the difficult balance facing policymakers: increasing affordable housing supply while ensuring projects remain financially sustainable and protected for future generations.
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