Authority to set up its own housing company

A council-owned housing company is being set up to address a "growing crisis".

Demand in Herefordshire currently outstrips supply Ed O'Driscoll, chairman of the council's connected communities scrutiny committee, said.

He warned the council's housing waiting list, currently more than 2,000 people, was increasing by up to 300 people per year.

Council-managed housing would provide an income stream to the authority while reducing the high cost of temporary accommodation, O'Driscoll added. He said he hoped the company would be established within the next financial year.

Green Party group leader, Diana Toynbee said she was supportive of the council developing its own housing stock and described council housing as a "a win-win-win".

There has recently been a significant increase and overspend with regards to temporary accommodation in the county, bosses were told.

Cabinet member for adults, health and wellbeing, Carol Gandy said more than 1,300 people presented as homeless since 1 April las t year.

"This is unprecedented and extremely worrying," she said.

There were 17 council-owned sites which could be considered for development including individual properties to those large enough for hundreds of homes.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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