AN independent report has revealed 7,000 homes will be needed in Bromsgrove to deal with the housing shortage.

The recommendations include building at least 70 new affordable homes a year for the next ten years, and dramatically improving the choice for Bromsgrove residents. In total, it advises that 7,000 homes will be needed by 2026.

The housing needs study, commissioned jointly by Bromsgrove District Council and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT), revealed a shortage of homes, especially two bedroom properties which is leading to young professionals leaving the area, and retired residents having no choice but to stay in their large family homes.

It also highlighted the commuter patterns of the area, with 17,000 people a day stating that they lived in the area, but travelled away from Bromsgrove to work, and at least 10,000 people working in the area who lived outside Bromsgrove.

Mike Brown, chief executive of BDHT, said: “Affording a property in Bromsgrove is almost impossible for most residents. Based on current salary levels and the cost of housing, 47 per cent of single income and 64 per cent of joint income households require affordable housing. However, because of the lack of new affordable properties, the number of affordable houses in Bromsgrove is now 120 fewer than in 2001.

“The commuter information shows clearly that people who work in the area cannot often afford to live here, and that those who live here need to commute out to afford to earn a salary which enables them to pay their mortgage. This leads to less people spending in the town centre, and less community spirit - two things the council and ourselves are determine to stop.”

The report, produced by a group of senior housing experts, showed that whille 83 per cent of properties are owned or mortgaged, there is a shortage of affordable and rented properties.

Roger Hollingworth, leader of Bromsgrove District Council, said: “Bromsgrove’s lack of accommodation for specific groups in society means that change is needed. The high number of commuters, either travelling in or out of the town, indicates that the choices of employment and the choices of housing are imbalanced. It also suggests that that those who live here are not spending the majority of their time in the town.

“The report’s recommendation that an additional 7,000 homes will be needed by 2026 is a key one, and something bdht and ourselves will be looking at in the coming months.”

An action plan will be produced to respond to the survey.