AFFORDABLE housing will be on the agenda tomorrow as MP Hugh Bayley and Labour candidates for Heworth meet local residents to discuss their concerns.

Mr Bayley said: "York is one of the house-price hot spots in the North of England. House prices in York have increased so much, many people are unable to get on the first rung of the property ladder. Half of all working households in York are unable to buy a home in their city. It is important that more houses are built and as many as possible are earmarked as affordable housing." The issue has also been debated by Labour councillors within City of York Council.

New figures show that the council set a target of creating 200 new affordable homes each year although this target has not been met in any year going back to 2003. The projected estimate that will be created in this financial year is only for 114.

In a council report, various reasons are given for missed targets - including that the council is not responsible for the management of building projects and so it is difficult to forecast when they will be completed.

Labour group leader Coun Dave Merrett said: "Local Labour are putting so much emphasis on the issue of affordable housing because it affects so many York residents. Something needs to be done urgently to create more affordable housing in both rented and bought accommodation.

"At the moment, the cost of housing in York is extremely high, in comparison to the average York salary, making both house purchase and private renting very difficult, if not impossible for some who, as a result, are being forced out of the city to places in Humberside and South Yorkshire."

Members of the Labour group have also met council officers in an attempt to address concerns regarding the balance between student and residential accommodation.