3:39pm Tuesday 9th February 2010
PLANS to build over 2,000 affordable homes for locals in North Yorkshire before the end of 2011 are to miss their target by around 850 properties.
The North Yorkshire Strategic Housing Partnership set itself the project to build 2,220 homes in the period between 2007-11.
But due to the recession and the decline in the number of houses being built it has only managed to get approximately 1,370 so far.
The North Yorkshire Strategic Housing Partnership is made up the county, district and borough councils plus the national parks.
Colin Dales, an assistant director with Hambleton and Richmondshire councils, said: "We’re not sure that we can deliver the affordable housing.
"We set ourselves a target of 2,220 homes in North Yorkshire, not including the City of York, and I don’t think we’ll reach that target.
"The building trade has collapsed and builders are not building so we can’t get the homes. Up until the end of September last year we had around 1,370 new affordable homes.
"We have another year to build a further 850 homes and looking at the waiting lists for affordable homes across North Yorkshire this is a big problem.
"We will review the situation at the end of 2011 and at that time we’ll review our targets."
The news comes as the housing partnership looks to launch a new housing strategy and it asks for locals input to it.
Residents have until the end of March to comment on the proposals which are to be used to direct future housing investment in the county.
To access the on-line survey visit www.northyorkshirehousingstrategy.co.uk, a council website or pick up a leaflet from housing departments.
A meeting to discuss issues on the survey are being held at the Civic Centre, Northallerton, on Monday, February 22 at 1pm.
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