Too few affordable homes are being built to meet the demands for housing in the East of England, says a report. An East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) study says that only half the 22,000 homes needed between 2006 and 2008 are to be built.
The report, which goes before the EERA housing panel on 10 January, calls for more use of agreements with private firms to help meet the shortfall.
It says EERA has seen �431m invested in housing the region.
Road schemes
Of that �356m has been invested in new, affordable homes with the rest spent on projects such as improving the quality of homes and finding sites for traveller communities.
The report says EERA and local councils should make more use of agreements with private firms, which set out how a developer will contribute to the community.
These Section 106 agreements set out how developers can for example, donate cash for road schemes, provide affordable homes or create new open spaces - in return for a planning application being approved.
Laurna Compton, regional housing officer, says in the report: "The Regional Housing Strategy estimates there is a need for 11,000. Yet, just over 4,000 were completed in 2004/2005."
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