The party vowed to release more land for housing if it wins on 3 May

The party wants to introduce local Affordable Homes Trusts (AHTs), which would be worth �100m a year.

Under the scheme, government would contribute one-third of funding and the private sector would provide the rest.

Would-be homeowners could apply for assistance and would share property ownership with the trusts.

The party also said it would release more land for housing, while simultaneously protecting the green belt, if it won the Scottish Parliament elections on 3 May.

To cut housing costs the Tories said they intended to set up a grant scheme to help householders install energy-saving systems such as solar heating or wind turbines.

It will give these communities a vehicle by which they can actually try themselves to expand affordable housing Annabel Goldie Scottish Conservative leader

Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "The main difference between our scheme and what's currently on offer is that we're trying to bring forward a proposal that will go right to the heart of many of our communities in Scotland.

"It will give these communities a vehicle by which they can actually try themselves to expand affordable housing."

The Tory leader admitted that the number of trusts which would be created remains unclear.

Social housing

She added: "That would depend on uptake. We might find that once launched communities immediately wanted to get up and running with this and that would be great.

"But at the end of the day, it's very much for local demand to determine."

However, Liberal Democrat communities spokesman Jamie Stone dismissed the plans and said the Tories "depleted" the social housing stock when they were last in power through right of council tenants to buy their property.

He added: "Their new change of heart, however welcome, is irrelevant as they have ruled themselves out of government after the election."