In his speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester today, Miliband said he would stop major developers sitting on land and back smaller house builders with new loans to get Britain building.

As part of his Britain 2025 vision he said Labour would ensure equal rights for the self-employed.

Miliband said all firms on Government contracts would be required to provide apprenticeships, as part of a new deal to raise skills among the workforce.

He restated Labour’s commitment to delivering 200,000 homes per year by 2020, and pledged to double the number of first-time buyers getting on to the housing ladder to 400,000 a year.

“The confidence and security that comes from having your own home is missing for so many people in Britain today; that most British of dreams, the dream of home ownership, has faded,” said Miliband.

“We will stop the large developers sitting on land and we will back the thousands of small developers and construction companies with access to new loans, there will be new towns, garden cities and suburbs with a half a million new homes.

“Housing will be a top priority in our capital investment programme – this party will get Britain building again.”

Among Labour’s other six goals are plans to boost the take-up of apprenticeships until they match the numbers going to university.

Labour also plans to strengthen the Green Investment Bank and get at least five million homes upgraded over 10 years, saving the average household £273 a year.

The Labour leader also pledged to halve number of low-paid workers and to create a million new “green” technology jobs.