CHRISTCHURCH council says a lack of larger developments in the area in recent years is the main reason for a lack of affordable rented housing in the town.

The response comes after figures obtained by a Freedom of Information Request showed just two new homes had been built for social rent, with 180 new builds, from April 2016 to March 2017.

For the five years from April 2012 to March 2017, 48 social rent properties were built, with a total of 635 new builds over the same time period.

The information follows reports earlier this month Christchurch Borough Council is someway off its targets for new housing.

Affordable housing aims in the council's four-year corporate plan are both down in the September update.

David Barnes, Christchurch and East Dorset Councils' Strategic Director, said: “The figures for delivery of affordable rented housing in Christchurch have been less than the council’s targets; the main reason for this is because we have had very few large sites where we can provide a significant number of affordable housing units through planning gain (S106 agreements).

“We currently have a scheme of 30 units of affordable housing under construction by Sovereign Housing on the former council-owned site at Grange Road in Christchurch which will be opening shortly and have recently negotiated to achieve around 236 units of affordable housing on the Local Plan site at Roeshot Hill over the coming years.

“The high price of housing in the area makes schemes like the Government’s 'Help to Buy' initiative, which is aimed at people on lower incomes, practically impossible to implement.

"We are looking to see whether housing announcements in the forthcoming budget will provide better help in places like Christchurch.”

The full figures from the Freedom of Information request to Christchurch Borough Council on how many new homes were built since 2013 and how many were built for social rent are:

HFR 2013 (Apr 2012 – March 2013)

Social Rent 4

New Build 66

HFR 2014 (Apr 2013 – Mar 2014)

Social Rent 9

New Build 128

HFR 2015 (Apr 2014 – Mar 2015)

Social Rent 22

New Build 136

HFR 2016 (Apr 2015 – Mar 2016)

Social Rent 11

New Build 125

HFR 2017 (Apr 2016 – Mar 2017)

Social Rent 2

New Build 180