One in three councils have 'not replaced any right to buy homes sold'

One in three councils has not replaced a single home sold through the Right to Buy scheme, according to official data.

Analysis of provisional figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) showed that 33% of the 166 councils in England listed as having sold properties through Right to Buy since 2012, had yet to replace a single home.

Only two councils had replaced more homes than were sold under the scheme - North Keveston and New Forest- and only 8% of councils had replaced half of their housing stock.

In total, it means just one home has been built for every nine sold.

The government had promised a like-for-like replacement of homes sold under the scheme.

Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb warned the problem was only likely to get worse, leaving some areas with no affordable homes.

Local Government Association housing spokesman Peter Box said many councils were being hampered by complex rules and restrictions.

Mr Box says Right to Buy discounts should be set locally to refect the cost of housing in the area. He argues this would allow councils to replace 50,000 homes sold during the next Parliament.