THE head of Trafford Housing Trust has slammed the Conservative Party’s election pledge to extend the 'right to buy' scheme.

The chief executive of Trafford Housing Trust, Matthew Gardiner, said the move would ‘destroy the delicate balance’ needed for providing homes to those that need them the most.

He argues that move would exacerbate an already ‘critical’ under-supply of new homes, highlighted by the 4,500 applicants already on the Trafford Council waiting list.

But the Conservatives argue that the scheme would allow for a £1 billion fund to increase home building on brown field sites.

“Trafford Housing Trust already provides a number of tried and trusted options for those who aspire to own some or all of their home,” said Mr Gardiner.

“We fear that the Conservative right to buy proposals would prove to be utterly inadequate because they do not use public money to build the new homes we desperately require to solve the much-publicised housing crisis.

“Instead, the Conservative proposals would be used to gift our rented homes to just a select few tenants, destroying the delicate balance that as a charity we are required to maintain to meet the housing needs of all for both present and future generations.”

A Trust spokesman added: “In 2014-15, the Trust sold 44 properties through right to buy, the proceeds from which were only sufficient to build 21 new homes.”

Matthew added:“The money earned through sales does not allow housing associations such as ourselves to build the required replacement properties.

“A recent 45 home development in Old Trafford saw between 35 and 40 people apply for each property and there are currently over 4,500 applicants on the Trafford Council waiting list for new homes.

“These figures reflect the critical situation we find ourselves in and show that extending any right to buy scheme, without also funds to add to the supply of affordable housing is just not the right way to move forward.”

Trafford Housing Trust is an independent housing company providing 9,000 affordable homes within the Trafford area of Manchester.

It has joined the National Housing Federation and fellow housing executives in condemning the Conservative Party’s plans to extend the right to buy to tenants of housing associations, saying the proposals ignore the need for new homes to solve the housing crisis.

Responding, prospective Parliamentary candidate for Altrincham and Sale West, Graham Brady, said: "The new Right to Buy for Housing Association tenants proposed by the Conservatives guarantees the replacement of every home sold with another home built.

"Matthew Gardiner should be reassured that far from causing a reduction in the number of homes available locally, the policy would therefore increase the number of homes.

"The proposed £1 billion fund to increase home building on brown field sites would also be good for Trafford. This policy would help Trafford Housing Trust tenants and those who are waiting for social housing to become available."