House building in Yorkshire ‘among weakest’ in country

Just under 10,000 homes were built in Yorkshire, way short of the 20,700 which experts say are needed every year to keep pace with new households forming.

National Housing Federation figures showed shortfalls across the country but Yorkshire has highest shortfall ratio outside London.

Yorkshire also fell short in building social housing, with just 880 built - a shortfall of 6,220.

A Federation spokesman called for politicians to “get their heads out of the sand and commit to a long-term plan.”

The figures were released as the Government proposed new measures to speed up the planning process for new houses.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis is seeking views on plans to set clear time limits on ‘section 106’ agreement negotiations.

Section 106 agreements - which attach conditions before permission is granted - ought to be discussed at the start of the process, he said, as “too often they drag out planning applications for months.”

Student housing developers may be exempted from affordable housing contributions under the plans.

Leeds Councillor Peter Gruen called on house builders to build where they already have planning permission.

Leeds has committed to building almost 1,000 council homes by 2018.