Councils Demand Half a Million New Homes

Local authorities across England and Wales are calling for plans to build half a million new homes before the end of the decade. They say the current shortage of affordable housing is a "national scandal" and an "emerging nightmare". The Local Government Association (LGA) - which represents 370 councils in England and Wales - is calling for a series of measures to help. Last year just 110,000 homes were built in England, half the number required. "The current housing crisis is nothing short of a national scandal which is going to get worse without radical action," said Councillor David Sparks, the incoming chairman of the LGA. Read more on the BBC website.