THERE are 2,071 applications in West Berkshire on the waiting list for social housing, new figures reveal.

A lack of social housing is one of the main reasons for the increasing number of people rough sleeping across the UK, according to housing charity Shelter.

Between 2014 and 2018, 615 affordable homes were built in West Berkshire, according to Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley and Cold Ash), the lead councillor for planning.

Of these, 109 were affordable rent, 296 were social rent, and 210 were shared ownership. Social rent is around 50 per cent of local market prices, while affordable rent is around 80 per cent.

Shared ownership is a way to party-buy and part-rent a home, for people who can’t afford to buy on the open market. Schemes are usually run by housing associations.

West Berkshire Council estimates the district needs 189 new affordable homes annually. However since 2014, only 125 were built on average each year.

Cllr Cole answered questions from Cllr Steve Masters (Green, Speen) at a meeting of the council executive on May 30.

Cllr Masters said: “If there is a waiting list of more than 2,000, does that not indicate undersupply and over demand?”

Cllr Cole said: “I think you are confusing two things. One is the number of people who are on the housing register, and the other is the levels of social housing stock.

“We are not social housing stock holders. The vast majority of social housing stock in West Berkshire is owned by Sovereign.

“Quite frankly, there are 800 permissions extant, but we can’t necessarily force developers to build these houses. They will do so in their own good time.”

The council uses a ‘strategic housing market assessment’ to estimate how many houses need to be built. The most recent assessment was in 2014, but that is being updated and the new assessment will be available this month.

Cllr Cole said: “There will be an opportunity to identify if these needs have changed over time.”

Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter, said: “Due to the perfect storm of spiralling rents, welfare cuts and a total lack of social housing, record numbers of people are sleeping out on the streets or stuck in the cramped confines of a hostel room.”