More new local authority housing is being built than at any other time in the last 30 years and 20,000 homes a year could be provided directly by councils if they had the freedom to deliver them, says a new report.

Campaigners for in-house and arm's length local authority housing have issued a manifesto For a council housing renaissance which also says current rules on the use of right-to-buy receipts to build replacement council homes are too restrictive.