THE government is at last trying to tackle the housing crisis – something that all parties have frankly failed to get to grips with in past years.

New proposals include getting the right homes built in the right places and speeding up house building.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid admits the current system isn’t working and is one of the greatest barriers to progress in Britain today.

The reforms in a White Paper published this week set out new measures to ensure the housing market works for everyone, including people on lower incomes, renters, disabled and older people.

Every local area will need to produce a realistic plan and review it at least every 5 years.

There are simply not enough houses and the ones available are too expensive for many people desperate to get onto the housing ladder.

It’s a terrible problem that society must tackle.

When we talk about housing issues in the city Andy Winter is a man who as CEO of the Brighton Housing Trust is held in very high esteem.

When he speaks he always talks sense and more politicians would be well advised to listen to what he says.

Today on page 5 he argues that we are living in exceptional circumstances and that we must build more houses.

He is right.

Brighton and Hove Council is quite buoyant about its record on housing and it says it will build 13,200 new homes by 2030.

Is that enough?

It sounds a high figure but will it be enough?

We fear not.