AFFORDABLE housing topped the agenda at last Thursday's Airedale and South Craven Area Forum.

Craven District Council officers told the meeting that 1,440 affordable homes - sold to local people below market value - were needed across the district over the next five years.

Nearly 500 affordable homes are required across South Craven, according to a housing needs assessment carried out by the council.

This includes 173 across the Aire Valley and Lothersdale, 147 in Glusburn, 129 in Sutton and 31 in Cowling.

The assessment also revealed more than 2,000 people across the district made up "hidden homelessness", where they were staying in households temporarily.

The second highest number of so called hidden homeless people are living in Glusburn (7.7 per cent), while 7.4 per cent are residing in Sutton. Cowling accounts for 7.2 per cent, while 6.7 per cent are in Airedale and Lothersdale.

The research also indicated 1,624 people had left Craven over the past five years due to a lack of suitable accommodation.

This impacted most in Cowling, where 6.7 per cent of households reported people moving away, while Sutton reported 6.4 per cent. A total of 4.4 per cent have left the Aire Valley and Lothersdale area and Glusburn has lost 3.8 per cent.

Just 3.1 per cent of second homes across the district can be found in South Craven.

Officers stated work was already under way to try to bridge the gap for affordable homes, including three homes at Bradley Mill being sold to locals at half price.

Seven purchase and repair homes, bought by Home Housing, are being rented out at a reduced price to locals.

Negotiations are also under way to tie up legal agreements to provide further affordable housing at several approved developments in South Craven.

These include four, two bedroom homes at the former ice-cream factory in Cononley, which should be sold half price, and 12 affordable homes at Sutton's Greenroyd Mill.

The council is also negotiating the sale of four three-bedroom homes at Harper Grove, Sutton, to a housing association to provide rented accommodation.

Katie Birkby, from the council's housing strategy team, said: "We are still actively pursuing any sites which could be used for affordable housing.

"We are speaking to developers who are putting in planning applications to look at providing affordable housing.

"Any landlords who would like to come forward, I would like to speak to them."

She also confirmed residents from South Craven who had recently moved out of the area could potentially apply for affordable homes.

Craven District Council chief executive Gill Dixon also spoke out about money made by the council from the sale of its housing stock to Craven Housing.

She reassured residents: "It isn't true money is sat there untouched. Some is being used for housing but not all of it.

"We are not in the position to build houses, we have to use the money in this way to help other people.

"We are doing everything we possibly can do to increase the supply of affordable housing for renting or buying."