Plans for affordable homes quota

House prices have risen considerably in Northumberland

A third of all new homes built in parts of Northumberland should be priced so local people can afford them, council bosses have recommended.

Castle Morpeth Borough Council says the move is needed to tackle a growing lack of affordable housing.

The authority wants a third of future residential developments of five homes or more to be "made affordable".

It says the average cost of a terraced house is £98,004, yet 33% of households have annual incomes below £15,000.

The overall target is for a third of all new homes built over the next five years - around 130 properties - to be made affordable.

This includes the provision of 50% of affordable homes in future developments in Ponteland, and 25% of all new homes in Morpeth and rural areas of the borough.

'Sustainable communities'

A recent council study showed the majority of new houses being built were either large executive homes or small apartments, with few other options available.

A council spokesman said: "There has been a lack of provision in the two and three bedroom home segment and in particular there are few opportunities for those on average incomes, even £25,000 per annum, to access the housing market within Morpeth.

"We would therefore expect all developments to secure a range of size, types and preferably tenures to redress this imbalance and respond to the concept of sustainable communities."

Under the new policy, the council says it will seek to ensure that the affordability of all new "affordable" properties is protected through subsequent changes in ownership.

In order to qualify for any affordable home, householders will have to fit criteria outlined in the new policy, which include residence in the borough or the need to live in Castle Morpeth.

The draft policy will go out to extensive consultation with property developers.