Bristol 'only hitting half the target' of affordable new-build homes

There are claims just half the number of affordable homes are being built in Bristol than are needed.

The warning comes from the Green Party who more and more will become trapped in rental accommodation or on council waiting lists.

They've called for greater transparency of the system which allows developers to fall significantly short of the 40 per cent target, set by the city council.

Rachel Sutton spends half her wages on the £750 monthly rent for her one-bed Bristol flat, and says she sees worries about getting anywhere she can ever afford to buy.

But it's something only possible by spending money left by her late mother.

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees says housing is his first priority, pledging to build 2,000 new homes a year by 2020.

Key to that are affordable homes - cheaper property which is achievable for people on the lowest earnings.

But holding private developers to the city council's target that 40% of new homes must be affordable is proving all but impossible because planning rules can't enforce it. The current figure is estimated at 21%.

Initial plans for the derelict former chocolate factory in Easton failed to include a single affordable home

Two major developments illustrate the dilemma.

Initial plans for 135 homes on the site of the former chocolate factory in Easton failed to include a single affordable home.

That's now been revised to six but work has yet to begin.

The developers told ITV News the former chocolate factory site has lay derelict and vacant for more than 10 years but added "it is not viable to deliver affordable housing on this site."

The former Blackberry Hill hospital

Campaigners are urging greater transparency of deals done on sites like this one near Fishponds. 500 homes are earmarked for the former hospital.

The developers here tell us they already build affordable homes for local people, and "it's always been their intention to deliver a proportion of them on this site."

Which means the onus is likely to fall on the council's shoulders when it builds on its own land.

That though won't help Rachel who says the only affordable home she may one day be able to afford may well be away from Bristol.