"Access to affordable housing is one of the biggest problems faced by the UK", Nick Clegg (Deputy Prime Minister) said 16th August 2010, Mr Clegg said affordable housing had become "one of the biggest long-term problems that we face as a country".

Following a report published by the Chartered Institute of Housing this weekend, which said the "golden age of homeownership" was over, Mr Clegg said he found it "heartbreaking" when he saw young families in his constituency who were unable to afford a home of their own. Mr Clegg announced that the government was "due to make a number of announcements on homeownership and affordable housing".

"One of the things that we are doing is dramatically decentralising power, making it easier for local communities to decide for themselves where they want new homes", he said. He also attacked the current council housing finance system for preventing councils from building new affordable housing.

As we know, delivering subsidised affordable (social rent) housing without a capital subsidy is a significant challenge.

We await these announcements with interest.

It's Simply Housing.