Young families across West Cumbria could be left without affordable places to live if a new bill gets through parliament, councillors have warned.

Allerdale council on Wednesday debated an emergency motion as MPs consider bringing in new rules that could see more social housing sold off and none built to replace it.

The council agreed to write to the Secretary of State and to call an urgent meeting with local MPs to raise concerns about that and other matters in the Housing and Planning Bill.

Parliament is currently debating the bill and is expected reach a conclusion next month.

If passed, it would extend the right-to-buy scheme to housing association tenants, meaning social landlords could be forced to sell off their stock.

It could also prevent councils putting in place planning restrictions that require housing developers to provide affordable housing.

New rules controlling rent payable by social housing tenants could also leave housing associations short of money and unable to build new homes, warned council leader Alan Smith.

While the bill aims to help the Government achieve its aim of providing starter homes to sell at 20 per cent below market value, Coun Smith warned that such homes would be unaffordable for many families and young people on ordinary incomes.

The bill did not address high rents, poor conditions and insecurity faced by many private sector tenants, he added.

Coun Smith said: "In Cockermouth we had to put a special thing through planning where we have 40 per cent not 20 per cent affordable housing in new developments.

"The bill would do away with that.

"We have problems with young people and young families who are unable to find somewhere to live because there's nothing being built by housing associations."
Coun Celia Tibble raised concerns about young men with mental health problems who in some cases were already living in unacceptably-poor, privately-rented accommodation.

The problem, she said, could worsen if there was even less social housing available.

Coun Peter Bales warned that the discounts applied under the right-to-buy scheme meant that, without further funding, social landlords would only have the money to built one new house for every four sold.

Coun Martin Pugmire said the need for designated affordable housing was particularly key in Keswick as it had very high house prices and private rents.

Thirty-four councillors voted in favour of writing to the Secretary of State and calling an urgent meeting with MPs.

Nine Conservative members abstained from the vote, concerned they had not had time to sufficiently research the matter.