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Government support for shared ownership schemes has received a cautious welcome as leading housing associations express concerns the salary threshold of £60,000 may be too low.

Under new proposals outlined in the government's draft legislative programme, the government will make up to £200m available to purchase unsold new homes, either to rent to social tenants or to offer to first-time buyers on shared ownership terms.

Brendan Barber, general secretary for the TUC, supported the proposals, although he urged the government to continue its intervention in order to make the market fairer.

He said: "The government is right to put more money into social housing and shared equity schemes. These measures will help the less well off who have been left way behind by the housing boom in the last few years."

For the first time, those looking to get on the property ladder will be eligible to buy shared ownership schemes, subject to an income limit of £60,000.

Further to this, a new shared equity scheme will be introduced for newly built properties with £100m being put aside for this purpose.

However, Mark Vaughan, sales and marketing director for housing-association Notting Hill Home Ownership, said although he welcomed the broadening of criteria he felt £60,000 still discounted many first-time buyers in London.

"Although £60,000 seems like a lot of money for a joint household nationally, it does not go quite as far in London and for many who earn over this amount, owning a home of their own remains out of reach."