Gordon Brown has suggested pouring millions of Government subsidy into already overheated housing markets in shared ownership schemes.

Oxford City Council research showed such schemes help only the top 20 per cent of households priced out of the market.

While this will help a few, money diverted from other housing programmes will hurt the 250,000 people registered homeless and 380,000 estimated 'hidden homeless' nationally whose plight costs society far more.

Oxfordshire Community Land Trust promotes an innovative mechanism to achieve what the Government is trying to do -- to get first timers on to the ownership ladder.

However, we aim to help all incomes priced out of the market, not just the top fifth, all hopefully without subsidy, so that precious public housing funds can go to the most needy.

Local communities influence the land use and development through a charitable trust and help manage it.

This pool of land value is then used to subsidise leaseholders so that they pay what they can afford and get the housing they need.

If all priced-out income ranges participate, we believe households could build up equity stakes from around £70 per week upwards without crippling individual mortgages. This is a win-win model for households, communities, landowners, planners and developers.

We hope to be at the Cowley Road Carnival in Oxford, or visit our website at www.oclt.org.uk

Jock Coats

Morrell Hall, Oxford