New evidence of housing crisis
in Wiltshire and Swindon

Pictured: Ann Cornelius, Westlea Executive Director (Operations) with a copy of the new National Housing Federation publication.

Political and public support for a major house-building programme is urgently needed in Wiltshire and Swindon to alleviate the local housing crisis, says Westlea.

This week the National Housing Federation (NHF) have published 'South West Home Truths: The real cost of housing 2007-2012', an annual update of official key housing facts and figures in the South West. The report shows that the lack of affordable homes in the region is resulting in a rapidly escalating housing crisis.

* Over the last five years, housing waiting lists in Wiltshire have increased by 66.7% and in Swindon by 95.2%.

* The average house price in Wiltshire is currently nearly 12 times the average income, making the region one of the most unaffordable areas in the UK to buy a home.

* The South West is the only region in the country to suffer from higher house prices but lower incomes than the national average.

Ann Cornelius, Executive Director (Operations) at Westlea Housing, one of Wiltshire’s largest housing associations, said: "These new figures make it plain to see that there are simply not enough affordable homes in Wiltshire and Swindon for the people who desperately need them.

"The NHF report shows the South West is only building around 70% of the homes we need every year and only half of the social homes required. This means there is now a major backlog of demand from families across the region.

"Westlea will continue to work with the local authorities in Wiltshire and Swindon, and our other partners, to provide as many new affordable homes as we can but need the support of the Government and the public to make a real impact."

'South West Home Truths: The real cost of housing 2007 – 2012' includes Oxford Economic house price forecasts for the next five years. The figures show that affordability is going to worsen drastically as house prices across the South West are set to increase by a further 44% to an average of £316,000 by 2012.

Derek Cash, Head of South Region for the National Housing Federation, said: “We are heartened by the Government’s Housing Green Paper and promise of additional funding for affordable housing. But political support for housebuilding campaigns is required at national, regional and local levels in order to deliver the homes Wiltshire and Swindon so desperately needs.

"Local communities should also support planning applications for new affordable housing schemes in their locality. This is the only way we are going to create sufficient housing to tackle the huge shortage," added Mr Cash.