HIGH house prices and low wages has left Ryedale facing the "most severe housing crisis in the country", according to a report.
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has revealed the average house price (£239,051) throughout the district is more than 15 times the average wage (£15,262) – easily the worst in Yorkshire and Humberside.
But, in a bid to tackle the problem, Rye
dale District Council’s community services and licensing committee is expected to back a strategy to address the need for local housing, tomorrow night.
Top of the agenda is to ensure affordable housing is a “standing item” at future meetings with regular progress updates.
New initiatives to deliver the council’s affordable housing objectives and help those in housing need are also expected to be discussed and supported. And there is a call for performance indicators to improve how the council measures its performance against the delivery of any targets.
Ryedale councillor Howard Keal said: “It is shocking the situation in Ryedale has worsened and a huge gap has opened up between earnings and the cost of a home.
“Lack of affordability is driving waiting lists for social housing through the roof as more and more people are squeezed out of the market.”
The council’s drive to provide affordable housing for rent or buy has seen it recently complete 44 affordable units, secure £5.6 million from Yorkshire Housing to provide 107 more homes, negotiate £400,000 from a developer, and fill new homes in Carlton Lane, Helmsley.
Irons in the fire include finding sites to build affordable housing, providing information to developers and a review of its planning policy, among others.
Cllr Keal said: “Every effort is needed to ensure we find ways to help meet pent up demand for new homes in suitable locations.”
The NHF report, Home Truths 2008 – Yorkshire and Humberside, shows that, in 2007, there were 1,030 households on the waiting list for social housing in Ryedale.
One in eight households are waiting for a property across the region, the worst in the country, with waiting lists rising by nine per cent last year, another record.
It also revealed only eight per cent of homes in the region were built for social housing in 2007 – the lowest proportion of social housing building in England.
Julie Gamble, regional manager for the NHF, said: “Many think the current drop in house prices would help.
“With borrowing conditions much stricter, housing transactions in the region have plummeted and more people are turning to housing associations for help.” She added: “It is vital we increase the provision of social housing to prevent this crisis worsening.”
l What do you think of the statistics? Have you experienced the shortage of affordable housing first hand? Write to the Malton and Pickering Mercury, 49 Market Place, Malton, YO17 7LX, or email sheila.elgey@yrnltd.co.uk
