BROMSGROVE has been labelled the ‘most unaffordable town in the West Midlands’ to buy a home by the head of Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT).
Chief executive Mark Robertson made the comment after council figures revealed the average property in the district costs almost 11 times the average annual income.
The new figures come at a time when leading homelessness charity, Shelter, estimates there are at least 320,000 homeless people across the UK.
With the average property in the district valued at 10.8 times the average salary and high street banks typically only lending 4.5 times someone’s salary, it makes buying a home almost impossible for many people.
Mr Robertson added BDHT had bucked the trend by recording its ‘best ever’ year in terms of number of homes handed over. It claims to have provided 127 new homes for residents, with just under 70 per cent of those social rent.
But Mr Robertson said there was more still to be done.
“There is a desperate shortage of affordable properties in Bromsgrove as well as nationally,” he said.
“Here at BDHT we are working every day to try and maintain the supply of these homes.
“That is why it’s so disappointing when we are refused planning permission on vitally needed properties for young people and families across the district.”
BDHT provides a steady flow of social rent and shared ownership homes which remain crucial to communities across Bromsgrove and in particular to younger or vulnerable residents.
To find out more, head to the website at www.bdht.co.uk or call 0800 0304 254.
***What do you think? Do you think enough is being done to combat the affordable housing shortage in Bromsgrove? What do you think should be done to combat the issue? Write to the editor at the address on page eight or email your views to editor@bromsgrove standard.co.uk
