THE idea of building council houses for rent to help the 2,100 families on the waiting list in the Forest get a home of their home has been backed by district councillors.

Although the initiative is very much in its infancy, the Forest Council supported the principle of the authority becoming a landlord for the first time since the council transferred its housing stock to the then Forest of Dean Housing Association in 2003.

Cllr Richard Leppington (UKIP, Bream), the council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for housing, told a meeting of the full council last Thursday (October 19): “Affordability of housing is a key issue facing this area and we’ve experienced a huge increase in the need for affordable rental housing.

“We currently have more than 2,100 households on our register which is a shocking and shaming statistic.”

He said affordable rented homes were the “predominant” type of housing required.

Land Registry figures show that average house prices in the Forest have increased by 184 per cent since the turn of the millennium.

In the same period, the number of households on the waiting list has increased from 1,106 to 2,106.

Supporting the proposal, Labour group leader Cllr Di Martin (Cinderford East) said affordable housing had been the party’s top priority “for as long as I can remember”.

She added: “Providing housing is absolutely necessary and for the council to dip their toe in is amazing.”

Green councillor Sid Phelps (Lydbrook and Ruardean), whose motion to council in July led to the report being prepared, said he was “chuffed” with the level of support.

The most likely way forward would be the establishment of a local housing company owned completely by the council.

This could allow the authority to buy existing homes, purchasing houses from directly from developers and building on land owned by the council or bought by it.

Housing association Two Rivers Housing says it plans to build at least 500 homes over the next five years.

Chief executive Garry King said: “We welcome all investment in affordable housing in the district and reaffirm our plan to provide homes for those that need them, including for rent, shared ownership and sale.

“We will build at least 500 homes in the next five years, and this will help towards the target of 50,000 homes needed in Gloucestershire before 2030, to address the county’s housing shortage.”