Council house waiting list now close to 8,000

Council bosses today pledged to work to tackle the shortage of properties in the city.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that as of December 1 there were 7,885 people on the waiting list.

Of those 3,670 has been on the register one year, 1,995 two years, 657 more than five years and 123 more than 10 years.

The city council's deputy leader Peter Bilson said the long waiting list was due to a lack of homes becoming available for families to rent.

People can face a long wait if properties do not match the type and location they want.

Councillor Bilson, who is also cabinet member for city assets, said: "As with all other local authorities up and down the country we recognise there is a shortage of housing.

"We are working hard to address this issue and are committed to a target of building 13,400 homes in Wolverhampton between 2006 and 2026, including a significant number of council homes.

"At the moment, we have to deal with a number of factors when trying to house people on the waiting list.

"Only around 1,600 properties become available for letting each year and the type of property and location on offer quite often does not match with people's preferences.

"It must be remembered that although there are almost 8,000 people on the waiting list, the actual amount bidding on properties that become available is 3,000 to 3,500.

"This is because others may have registered for housing but are not ready to move or may be pursuing other housing options such as mutual exchange, and nomination to a housing association in the private sector."

The council has this week announced plans for 72 homes on the Tower and Fort Works site in Graiseley. It would see the 3.4 acres of land sold to a development partner for family homes.

But a quarter of the homes will be set aside as affordable council houses at an estimated cost of £2 million.

The authority hopes to appoint a development partner by the end of summer 2016, with construction starting by spring 2017.

The latest scheme follows the completion at Thompson Avenue in August of 40 council homes.

They are the first new council houses to be built in the city in 30 years.

Meanwhile, a similar mixed residential project of private and council homes in Low Hill will also see construction start next year on more than 100 homes at Showell Road, Broome Road and Fifth Avenue.