Gordon Brown promises eco-housing development

The chancellor Gordon Brown has said housing development is at the centre of his campaign to become the next prime minister.

He pledged to oversee the construction of 200,000 new homes a year. This will include five eco-towns, made up of 100,000 carbon neutral or low carbon homes.

Locally generated power from sustainable sources will provide energy to these eco-towns.

Gordon Brown said: "With house prices rising, families want more affordable housing. In advance of the Queen’s Speech, I propose to meet people in every part of the country. I will discuss with young home buyers and communities how we can build more affordable homes, in an environmentally sustainable way."

He added he wanted to create a "home-owning, asset-owning, wealth-owning democracy."

It is thought he may propose planning-free zones to encourage new housing development and the creation of eco-towns.

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