Affordable housing shortage in Worthing

WORTHING Council is delivering only 23 per cent of affordable homes that are needed, claims housing charity Shelter.

Shelter's Housing League Table shows Worthing is failing to deliver enough affordable homes, and is ranked 125 out of 323 English local authorities.

Local authorities are responsible for identifying the housing need in their area and for ensuring enough affordable homes are provided to meet this need.

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However, Shelter's research has found that 216 councils, including Worthing, are delivering fewer than half the number of homes they have identified are needed.

Waiting list

Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb said: "These figures are extremely worrying.

"With over 2,500 households on the housing waiting list in Worthing, the council must work far harder to ensure more desperately needed affordable homes are provided if it ever hopes to meet the housing needs of the local population."

A spokeswoman for Adur and Worthing councils said: "Although we understand the findings by Shelter, it does have to be acknowledged that the recession has stalled many developments, especially in the south east, where land is limited and, therefore, costly.

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"It is true that relatively few affordable homes have been completed in the last three years, especially in Adur.

New homes

"However, this is about to change significantly over the next few months as six affordable home schemes are completed in Adur and Worthing.

"These developments, which will provide 160 new homes, 86 in Adur and 78 in Worthing, are for rent at affordable rates or shared ownership. And a further 140 in Adur and 57 in Worthing are anticipated over the following two years."

The spokeswoman said both councils would continue to negotiate with developers, housing associations and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to fund future schemes."

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