Emma Reynolds, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East and Shadow Housing Minister, has today responded to the welcome news that work to build the first new council homes in Wolverhampton for 30 years is now underway.The new development is located off Thompson Avenue and will see the creation of 120 new houses, 40 of which will be council homes, representing the first to be built in the city since the 1980s.

Emma said “I am delighted that today work is starting to build the first new council houses in Wolverhampton for 30 years. I want to praise Wolverhampton City Council for achieving this landmark and Kier Partnership Homes for delivering the new council homes. I look forward to visiting the new site soon, with Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, and Cllr Peter Bilson.

“Across Wolverhampton, over 13,000 people are on the waiting list for social housing. Nationally, we face an acute housing shortage because under this Tory-led government we are building less than half the number of houses we need to keep up with demand. Building council houses is therefore vital to address this shortage.

“Labour Councils like Wolverhampton are rising to this challenge. When it comes to building new council houses, Labour councils are outbuilding Tory councils five to one. A Labour government will build at least 200,000 homes a year by 2020.”

November 2013