NEW government housing policies could see York lose as much as £455 million over 30 years, and put the brakes on council house building in the city.

Last night the city council's Executive heard a report from their own officers which estimated up to £455 million could be wiped off its housing income in the next three decades.

New policies like the Right to Buy for housing association tenants, and a sell-off of the most valuable council houses, will see York's housing income fall by between £340 million and £455 million in three decades, the report said.

The city will be "disproportionally" hit, and council house building is likely to be significantly cut, or stopped altogether, councillors were warned.

Both Cllr David Carr and Cllr Andrew Waller said the “devil was in the detail” over how York would cope with the new housing policies, but Cllr Waller went on to say the local authority had a duty to speak up over the looming impact of Government policy.

“To say that council house building will end is a significant policy change,” he added.

Cllr Sue Hunter, Lib Dem spokesperson for housing on the council, has written to the housing minister asking for a rethink, saying the Right to Buy plan for housing associations and sell-off of high-value council homes created a “perfect storm” which would worsen the housing crisis in York.