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Young first-time buyers to get 20% off under Tory plan Young first-time buyers to get 20% off under Tory plan
(34 minutes later)
Young first-time buyers in England could buy a house at 20% below the market rate if the Conservatives are re-elected, David Cameron has pledged.Young first-time buyers in England could buy a house at 20% below the market rate if the Conservatives are re-elected, David Cameron has pledged.
The Conservative leader said the party would build 100,000 new homes, reserved for those under 40 buying their first home. The Conservative leader said a future government led by him would build 100,000 new homes, reserved for those under 40 buying their first home.
They would be exempt from some taxes and built on brownfield land already identified for development, he said. They would be built on brownfield land already identified for development and exempt from some taxes, he said.
He was speaking as the party prepares for its annual conference this weekend.He was speaking as the party prepares for its annual conference this weekend.
Conservative politicians and activists will gather in Birmingham from Sunday for what is the final conference before next May's general election.Conservative politicians and activists will gather in Birmingham from Sunday for what is the final conference before next May's general election.
'Locked out''Locked out'
Unveiling the pledge - an extension of the Help to Buy mortgage scheme - Mr Cameron said the Conservatives wanted more young people to "achieve the dream" of owning their own home.Unveiling the pledge - an extension of the Help to Buy mortgage scheme - Mr Cameron said the Conservatives wanted more young people to "achieve the dream" of owning their own home.
"I don't want to see young people locked out of home ownership," he said."I don't want to see young people locked out of home ownership," he said.
"We've already started to tackle the problem with Help to Buy mortgages - and these new plans will help tens of thousands more people to buy their first home.""We've already started to tackle the problem with Help to Buy mortgages - and these new plans will help tens of thousands more people to buy their first home."
The starter homes plan would only apply to England, whereas Help to Buy is UK-wide. The starter homes plan would apply only to England, whereas Help to Buy is UK-wide.
That scheme sees the government offering a 20% equity loan to buyers of newly-built properties. That scheme entails the government offering a 20% equity loan to buyers of new-build properties.
Campbell Robb, of homelessness charity Shelter, welcomed the pledge but said it was "absolutely vital" that the homes built were "genuinely affordable for young couples and families on ordinary incomes".
"There's a real concern that removing the requirement on developers to build affordable housing means this policy may not help those facing the greatest struggle to get a home of their own," he said.
Grainia Long, of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said she welcomed "the focus on supply and affordability" but still had "some serious concerns".
She said: "This smacks of building for one group of people at the expense of another.
"Social housing is critical if we are going to solve the housing crisis - there are always going to be people who can't afford to buy and we must provide decent, affordable homes for them too.
"Equally, we'd like to see more investment in shared ownership to help people on lower incomes. If all the focus is on home ownership, we are never going to build mixed communities."
'Raft of taxes''Raft of taxes'
Under the new proposals, the homes would be built on brownfield land which was no longer needed for industrial or commercial use.Under the new proposals, the homes would be built on brownfield land which was no longer needed for industrial or commercial use.
Savings from constructing the dwellings on such land would be passed on to the buyers, the Conservatives said. Savings from using such land would be passed on to the buyers, the Conservatives said.
Public sector land would also be used to deliver the pledge.Public sector land would also be used to deliver the pledge.
The homes would be exempt "from a raft of taxes", Mr Cameron said, such as the community infrastructure levy and a requirement to build social housing as part of any development.The homes would be exempt "from a raft of taxes", Mr Cameron said, such as the community infrastructure levy and a requirement to build social housing as part of any development.
Some building regulations - like the zero carbon homes standard - would also not apply to the new units.Some building regulations - like the zero carbon homes standard - would also not apply to the new units.
Are you a first-time buyer under 40? What do you think about this pledge? You can share your experience and comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you a first-time buyer under 40? What do you think about this pledge? You can share your experience and comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.