LABOUR will outline new definitions of affordable housing in its green paper today as well as announcing plans to build a million more social homes over 10 years for low and middle-income earners.

The party said that, in government, it would redefine the Tories’ definition of affordable housing, linking pricing to incomes  social housing rent, “living rent” and low-cost home ownership.

The Tory government’s current definition of “affordable housing” is rent up to 80 per cent of that on the private market.

The green paper, launched by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and shadow housing secretary John Healey, outlines a new "duty to deliver" for councils to build affordable housing and a new English Sovereign Land Trust to make more land available cheaply.

Mr Corbyn said: “Luxury flats proliferate across our big cities, while social housing is starved of investment and too many people are living in dangerous accommodation at the mercy of rogue landlords.

“We need to restore the principle that a decent home is a right owed to all, not a privilege for the few. And the only way to deliver on that right for everyone, regardless of income, is through social housing.”

Proposals to make it easier for councils and housing associations to borrow and get funding as well as a new Department for Housing are also included.

Local Government Association vice-chair Nick Forbes welcomed the “bold and ambitious” set of proposals.

He added: “Local authorities are keen to be part of the solution, but current government policies hold us back from doing more.”

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire last June, Labour also wants to improve current Decent Homes obligations for social landlords by including fire safety for the first time.