THE frequent references in letters to the million-plus council homes sold off to tenants at discount prices implies that this contributed to the housing shortage.

Consider these facts. Councils were no longer obliged to maintain these properties, the revenue from the rent was lost.

There was no loss to the housing stock in the country; no one was added to the waiting list as a result. Tenants merely become private owners.

One million replacement council houses were never possible or required.

There are plenty of reasons for the provision of many more affordable houses, but recent letters here have described the problems to overcome before building takes place.

Not in the least planning permission requiring for estates requiring the inclusion of a percentage of affordable housing which, in practice are not affordable from the builder’s point of view.

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.