Lib Dem council affordable housing success

3.58.00pm GMT Tue 17th Feb 2009

The Lib Dem run council have exceeded their affordable homes target.

Lib Dem-run Lewes District Council has exceeded its affordable homes targets by 30% in 2008-09 despite the economic downturn. Watch lead member for housing Steve Saunders discuss the issue here: http://www.leweslibdems.org.uk/tv

85 affordable homes will have been built in the district by the end of the financial year, 20 more than the original target of 65. Fourteen new homes in Chailey have brought the housing waiting list in the village down to zero.

Lead member for housing, Steve Saunders says: "It has been a priority for the council to ensure there is more affordable housing for local people. During the economic downturn more people will need housing support, and we as a district are working hard to meet this need. We are pleased that good planning and the hard work of our officers have allowed us to do this."

"Next year we are on target to see even more affordable housing built. Affordable housing makes up 40% of the Lewes House site, and this will go ahead."

Next year the District hope to make even more affordable homes available, with 94 currently planned.

Steve adds: "We have been working with parish councils to identify sites for housing, and with housing associations and developers to make sure they are appropriate for those who need to be housed. Some of the potential developments are on rural exception sites identified by villages as suitable areas for affordable housing to allow local people to continue to live in villages."