FURTHER discussions have been held to evaluate the problems facing Monmouthshire council in providing affordable housing for residents.

All local authorities in Wales have been tasked with building an additional 20,000 affordable homes over the next five years by the Welsh Government. Members of four select committees in Monmouthshire were given an update on affordable housing in the county at a special meeting last week.

The council’s current Local Development Plan (LDP), adopted in 2014, has a target of building 96 affordable units per year. But only 80 affordable dwellings have been built since then, equating to around 18 per cent of housing completions.

Some sites which have been earmarked for housing, including Fairfield/Mabey in Chepstow and Rockfield Farm in Undy, remain undeveloped.

Mark Hand, head of planning, said: “Our own sites haven’t come forward quite as quickly as we’d like but there’s been some complexities along the way.

“We’ve got three of those sites that have been in with planning for about two years. Is that where I want to be? Absolutely not.”

A report, which went before the meeting, said there are currently 3,041 people on the Monmouthshire housing register, with each of the prospective homeowners being split into different groups depending on need. Between social housing and open market housing, there are those that are stuck in the intermediate market, an area where the majority of housing need is found according to deputy council leader Cllr Phil Hobson.

He said: “If you’re in the private rental market you have already made your own housing provision therefore your housing need is minimal but you don’t earn enough on the ladder so you’re trapped.

“A lot of our young people in Monmouthshire and across the country are facing this trap.”

Monmouthshire will also likely face further pressure when the price of the Severn Crossings halve next year. Chepstow, town Cllr Hilary Beach has previously raised concerns this could spark an increase in house prices and an influx of residents. Speaking last month, she said: “We are already short of housing and we need affordable housing here. It could have a huge effect if house prices go up.”Recent statistics from the council show £277,500 is the average house price in the county compared to £179,300 which is the Welsh average.