DURHAM'S MP is asking the Government to check that Durham City Council is acting in accordance with national policies.

Labour member Roberta Blackman-Woods has written to Hazel Blears, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, asking her to look into the Liberal Democrat-run authority's provision of affordable housing.

The MP, who has attacked the council before on the issue, said: "National planning policy states that any sites of new housing with more than 15 units should contain an element of affordable housing. However, Durham City Council's policy states that it only needs this on sites of more than 25 units.

"This failure to ensure affordable housing is properly integrated into new developments is making it even more difficult to create sustainable, inclusive and mixed communities throughout Durham City and surrounding villages.

"What is making matters worse, is that the city council is even failing to implement its own deficient policy. For example, a recent application for the redevelopment of former council offices at Byland Lodge into 28 homes contained absolutely no affordable housing.

"This is completely unacceptable and I have demanded that the Government Office for the North-East look into the case.

"There is an important issue at stake here. The council has been criticised by an independent planning inspector of failing to provide for residents of Durham who are in affordable housing need', and I have been trying to get them to resolve this problem for many years.

"It is far too difficult for local people to afford family homes in Durham, especially nearer to the city centre, and the council has done nothing to help.

"The Government's planning policies are designed to improve access to affordable housing, and they should be followed."

The council says it has a good record of providing affordable homes through its partnership with the Durham Villages Regeneration Company, which it part-owns.

It has also said that affordable housing is one of many issues to be considered when studying planning applications.