ALMOST 15,000 affordable homes have been built in the North-East and North Yorkshire since 2010, new figures show.

The developments have been welcomed by Housing Minister Brandon Lewis who said work had already started on delivering thousands more properties.

According to the figures released on Wednesday by the Department for Communities and Local Government, 1,730 homes were built in County Durham, 820 in Stockton, 810 in Redcar and Cleveland, 800 in Middlesbrough, 650 in Darlington, 380 in Hambleton and 250 in Richmondshire.

The Housing Minister said the figures meant the Government’s 2011 to 2015 Affordable Homes Programme had exceeded expectations.

Mr Lewis said: “This government is determined to ensure anyone who works hard and aspires to own their own home should have the opportunity to turn their dream into a reality.

“Our affordable housebuilding efforts are exceeding our ambitions and delivering more than 260,000 affordable homes. It’s a boost to families across the country."

The figures were welcomed by the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations.

Kathleen Kelly, assistant director of policy and research, said: “It is fantastic to see such strong numbers of affordable homes being built in the North-East.

"Housing associations are ambitious to build on these figures by delivering 120,000 homes a year across the country for aspiring renters and owners by 2033.

“Government can help housing associations and their partners in the housing sector to meet that ambition through freeing up land in the right places and continuing its investment in affordable homes.”