Council optimistic over affordable housing target

Mid Devon district council has said it is ahead of schedule in its project to increase the number of affordable homes in the area.

The authority's plan involves the building of 300 such homes between 2005 and 2010.

At the start of 2008 the target figure for completion was 160, but 170 have now been finished.

In addition to this, the council stated, 147 are currently under construction and expected to be complete in the coming summer.

This will mean that there will be 317 completed homes over a year ahead of schedule.

Affordability has been a major issue for key workers and first-time buyers in recent years, with Firstrung chief executive officer Paul Holmes commenting that taking out a home loan with a cost-to-salary ratio of five or six would be an "absurd" move.

One alternative means of getting on the housing ladder is to self build.


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