£110m deal signed to boost region's housing amid building crisis

The Leeds City Region Partnership – made up of 11 local authorities – said the agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency will improve existing housing and neighbourhoods, create energy efficient homes, and deliver much needed affordable housing.

A joint board will be responsible for directing the funding priorities across the city region and said it will provide new jobs and investment to speed up the economic recovery.

Coun Andrew Waller, chair of the new joint board and leader of City of York Council, said: "We welcome today's funding agreement which will provide significant investment at a time when the economic recovery is still fragile.

The funding will help maintain momentum in delivering the affordable homes we need across the city region, supporting much needed jobs and training opportunities."

The city region includes Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York, along with North Yorkshire County Council.

Last week this newspaper revealed Yorkshire was facing a housing crisis with only a fraction of the thousands of properties needed actually being delivered and the Government cutting millions of pounds of support for the industry.

New research claimed most councils failed to tempt developers to provide even half of the affordable they needed, with 12 authorities unable to achieve more than 20 per cent.

Shaukat Moledina, board member of the HCA said: "The significant investment agreed will ensure there is a balanced housing market that meets the local needs of the current and future residents of the places within the city region."