COUNCIL chiefs hope to stop escalating property prices preventing people getting on the housing ladder.

Half of all new homes in York are likely to be made "affordable", to try to cope with rocketing house values.

The council's ruling executive is poised to approve plans next week to increase the proportion of affordable homes in new housing developments from 25 to 50 per cent.

Developers fear the quota would make it harder to develop brownfield sites because of the extra costs.

But a council report says similar concerns were raised when the 25 per cent figure was introduced in 1998.

It said: "With the boom in house and land prices, it was felt that land in York still realises a higher value even if a target of 50 per cent was imposed."

The report was drawn up by the council's housing scrutiny board, in consultation with bodies including the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and Persimmon Homes.

If the recommendations are accepted, the rule will apply to developments of 15 homes and more. The current quota applies to developments of 25 homes and above.

Council officers also want 90 per cent of the affordable homes to be given to the rental market, in an attempt to ease the difficulties faced by people unable to afford either to buy their own homes or to rent in the unsubsidised private rental market.

They hope the quota would help not only people on low incomes in York, but also contribute towards meeting an anticipated shortfall of 954 new homes over the next five years, which was identified in November.