Families in struggle for homes

Young families are still struggling to try and get a foot on the property ladder in Dudley, according to a borough MP, who says he is being contacted every week with tales of woe.

With housing prices still on the up, Ian Austin said young people in particular were struggling to get a place of their own.

The Dudley North MP said nearly all new homes being built in the borough were simply out of financial reach for first-time buyers.

And he has called on Dudley Council to do its bit by sprucing up empty and derelict homes, as well as using brownfield sites.Mr Austin said: "Housing is a really big issue here in Dudley, there's not a week goes by when hard working local families don't come to me for help with housing.

"Although much has been done, with the number of new homes being built at its highest since 1990, there simply have not been enough homes built here for a generation.

"We reckon 60,000 homes can be built on brownfield land currently owned by local councils."The one thing I really want to see is the council getting to grips with thousands of empty and derelict homes across Dudley.

"If Dudley Council got those back into use, we would not only clean up the area, we would be able to provide desperately needed affordable homes.

"I am keen to show all those hard-working local young families we are on their side."

The call for new homes comes as a new £8 billion package for affordable homes was announced by housing minister Yvette Cooper this week.

The Green Paper also outlined a commitment to build at least 70,000 affordable houses a year by 2010-11.

By Wayne Beese