EAST Hampshire District Council has set out an ambition to find new ways to make homes affordable to people who can’t get on the property ladder – which includes building its own homes.

To achieve this aim, a new Affordable Housing Strategy sets out how the council can make homes more accessible to more people.

It is backed with around £2million from developers which made financial contributions instead of building affordable homes.

Council deputy leader and portfolio holder for community engagement Cllr Julie Butler said: “There is an urgent need for affordable homes as East Hampshire is one of the most expensive places to live and many people can’t afford market-price homes, even though they may have grown up here or work here now.

“Their housing situation can be the cause of stress or anxiety and the links between poor housing and poor physical and mental health are widely accepted.

“We want to find a way to make more affordable homes available to people in the district and this strategy sets out how we can do it.”

Among the methods proposed is a shared equity agreement with housing associations.

One such partnership, with Merlion Housing Association offers homes at a discount of up to 50 per cent market value with no rent to pay.

So far 39 homes have been delivered this way, with another four in the pipeline (pictured left are Merlion homes at Lovedean).

The council is also set to undertake small development projects of its own, either in isolation or with an affordable housing provider, using developer contributions.

One potential site in Petersfield for affordable homes built solely by the local authority or with a housing association, is the former council offices at Penns Place.

The council has previously suggested the soon-to-be-empty office campus could be considered for a mix of small business units and housing.