Housing minister also gives green light to biggest council housing programme for two decades

Housing minster, John Healey, has released details of £250m to build 3,400 homes and create around 5,000 jobs.

The bulk of the money comes from the National Affordable Housing Programme budget, but has been boosted by extra money as part of the housing pledge announced in June.

The money will be shared between 43 housing associations and other bodies across 97 local authority areas throughout the country.