The windfall will help local people get onto the housing ladder

Devon councils have a share of �4.5m to invest in affordable housing.

The extra money has been made available by the reduction in the level of council tax discount on second homes from 50% to 10% in some areas.

Devon County Council and district councils are also to jointly employ a housing co-ordinator to lobby for more affordable housing for the county.

Single status

West Devon Borough Council is planning to work with the private sector to refurbish properties for young single people, while Exeter City Council is planning to encourage landlords to let rooms to single people with its share of the �4.5m.

Mid Devon District Council is investing in flats for young people and, in east Devon, there are plans to buy homes for rent to local people through a housing association.

An east Devon housing charity has welcomed news that single and young people are among those set to benefit.

Laura Callaway, assistant director of Exeter Homeless Action Group, said that, as a group, they often came at the back of the housing queue but made up 80% of clients.

She said: "The fact is that there are more single people looking for accommodation because family sizes are getting smaller, just because that's the way demographics are moving.

"So there are more single people moving out of home and living independently of their extended family."

Devon County Council leader Christine Channon said: "Having a secure, affordable home is such a priority issue for the people of Devon. This windfall has given us the opportunity to help local people get onto the housing ladder."

However, the county council did sound a cautionary note. The money is a one-off measure and the council said there could be no extra revenue costs.

Councillor Brian Greenslade said: "Whether we will be able to do this in the future very much depends on the funding settlement the Government gives us for 2005/6 and beyond."