THERE is a ‘chronic’ lack of affordable housing in Westmorland and Furness, council documents state.

A presentation prepared for members of the communities and environment scrutiny committee for Westmorland and Furness Council says the area ‘urgently’ needs more affordable homes.

Council documents say social rented housing accounts for less than 11 per cent of all properties within the council area while the national average is 16.5 per cent.

The presentation adds in some areas such as in the Bowness and Lyth ward less than 10 per cent of properties are available for social rent.

The report states: “We have a chronic lack of affordable housing, particularly in some of our most expensive places to live.”

According to the presentation, Westmorland and Furness has some of the ‘least affordable housing’ outside the South East, with average property prices being 7.3 times higher than the average household income.

Council documents state: “We understand that a lack of access to affordable housing acts as a barrier to economic growth, as well as putting pressure on the delivery of essential services as those on lower income struggle to access housing within our high value constrained housing market and we are committed to increasing the availability of affordable housing.”

The report says there are ‘growing shortages’ of affordable housing within the private rented sector and adds since the pandemic the demand for ‘staycations’ has risen, which has led to an increase in the number of short-term holiday lets.

The presentation says potential approaches to tackle these challenges include securing 1,500 affordable homes through section 106 agreements over the next five years and facilitating the delivery of 200 affordable homes through affordable housing grant allocation.

Members of the communities and environment scrutiny committee will discuss the presentation when they meet on October 28 at Kendal Town Hall.