9:31am Friday 19th March 2010
By Paul Cook
A COUNCIL has defended its record after a survey said it was one of the worst in the country in delivering enough affordable homes to meet local needs.
Housing charity Shelter reserved extra criticism for Darlington Borough Council, which was ranked 301st nationally from 323 authorities.
Its housing league table, which is launched today, said Darlington provided only five per cent of the number of affordable homes that are required in the town.
At the other end of the table, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is rated as the best in the region and third across the country.
It was only one of eight in England to provide enough affordable homes. The survey said its figure was 167 per cent of that required.
Darlington Borough Council is among 76 authorities which Shelter said delivered less than one in ten of the number of affordable homes which are required.
But Councillor Bill Dixon, deputy leader in Darlington, said last night the statistics were flawed and council officers said that the league table was based on a 2005 needs assessment.
Coun Dixon said last year the council invested more than £6.4m with a further £4.1m coming from a partnership with Fabrick Housing.
He said: “While we’ve always been conscious there has been a shortfall in the number of affordable homes, we have worked tirelessly to provide quality affordable housing for residents.”
Local authorities are responsible for identifying the housing need in their area and for ensuring enough affordable homes are provided to meet that need.
Campbell Robb, Shelter chief executive, said: “These figures are extremely worrying.
With 2,465 households on the housing waiting list in Darlington, 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.”
Independent experts said of 577 new homes needed only 30 were delivered.
Councillor Lynn Pallister, of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “We are delighted but not complacent at our position in the league table and pleased at the part we have been able to play with partners in providing over 200 affordable homes in the borough.”
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