The Shadow Housing Secretary urged voters to support Labour in the upcoming local elections as he visited a new London Living Rent (LLR) scheme in Harrow.

John Healey praised the Labour-run council for its approach to the housing crisis and said it was fighting back against “Tory Government failure”.

But the Conservative opposition in Harrow has accused the Labour Group of trying to blow their own trumpet in the run up to the elections after “years of doing nothing”.

The housing block, known as Le Bon Court, in St John’s Road, Harrow, is the first in the borough to benefit from the LLR scheme.

Of the 27 properties, 23 will come under the programme, which locks in rent prices at a third of the average household incomes.

Leader of Harrow Council, Sachin Shah, said: “This scheme is just one of the ways the Labour Council is building a better Harrow.

“These are homes for Harrow residents or key workers, such as nurses working at Northwick Park hospital.

“It’s exactly the type of homes Harrow needs. At the elections, the Harrow Labour Party is committing to building more homes for Harrow residents, ensuring that Harrow residents get ‘first dibs’ on new homes in council regeneration sites.”

The overall aim of the scheme is to direct tenants towards home ownership through the money they save.

Spaces are offered for a minimum of three years, and tenants will begiven the option to buy their home on a shared ownership basis during their stay.

They will also be given extra priority for other shared ownership homes across London.

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, backed up Mr Healey’s view and said Labour was best placed to support residents going forward.

He said: “This is proof of the difference a Labour council can make when in power.

“It’s great to see such a scheme in Harrow. Through this scheme Harrow council can provide affordable housing for Harrow residents and key workers.”

Paul Osborn, leader of Harrow Conservatives, noted the worth of the LLR scheme and said it was something his party would look at if elected in May.

But he believes it is insufficient compensation for an ineffective housing policy during this administration.

He said: “They’ve been in power for the last eight years and have done nothing. Harrow has gone downhill so much during this time.

“Now we have an election coming up and they start speaking up. But we want to build a Harrow that has a real sense of community.”

He criticised the approach to housing in Harrow, noting the high number of tower blocks that were put forward.

“They are destroying the skyline and destroying the image of what Harrow should be,” he said.

“We intend to look again at all these schemes and make sure we create something which fits in with what people really want.”