A BID to create more affordable housing could see restrictions placed on the sale of former council houses.

Richmondshire District Council is proposing to force owners who buy their house under the 'right to buy' scheme to sell only to local people.

Colin Dales, the council's housing unit manager, believes limiting the resale options of owners would deter right-to-buy applications and therefore help the council to maintain its stock of affordable homes.

It is thought the restriction would also depress the value of ex-council properties and make them more affordable to local people wanting to get a foot on the housing ladder.

In a report to councillors, Mr Dales said: "There is no doubt that right-to-buy has been a popular policy in the eyes of those who can afford to exercise their right.

"It has also raised significant capital resources for the council, much of which has been ploughed back into improving the council housing stock left.

"On the other hand, Richmondshire has an acknowledged shortage of affordable/local needs housing.

"The council has been successful in enabling housing associations to develop new affordable/ local needs housing in the district but these new developments have not been able to keep pace with right to buy sales."

In 1980, the council owned 3,380 council houses but this figure has fallen to just 1,720 this year.

Mr Dales said: "Any restriction on resale is likely to be a deterrent to potential right-to-buy applications and therefore may protect certain elements of the stock, and thus retain much-needed affordable/local needs housing within the district."

If councillors approve the proposal at a meeting tonight, officers will contact the Government for permission to introduce the regulation.

The resale restriction would then apply to all council houses in rural parts of the district, excluding Richmond, Hipswell, Scotton and Colburn.

A second option being considered is to give first refusal on former council houses being put up for sale to the district council.

But it is thought that this would prove too costly for the authority, which would not have the money available to buy back the properties.