THE PROVISION of social housing in the south west of England has fallen by 77 per cent, a charity has discovered.

New analysis carried out by Shelter shows that the delivery of social housing in the south west has plummeted since the start of the decade, from 4,121 homes in 2009-2010 to 942 in 2017-2018.

This is despite more than 100,000 households on the waiting list for social housing in the region, which includes Dorset.

The analysis was carried out in response to Shelter's social housing commission which has launched a landmark report calling for the provision of 3.1 million new homes across the country, extending the offer of social housing to many more people.

'Building for our future: A vision for social housing' recommends the government invests in a major 20-year housebuilding programme, which would offer a social home to millions who fail to qualify under the current system.

Commissioner Ed Miliband MP, one of those who helped produce the report, said: “The time for the government to act is now. We have never felt so divided as a nation, but building social homes is priority for people right across our country."