THE economic climate is doing little to help Wiltshire families looking for homes, as a new report identifies more than 14,400 households are on waiting lists for social housing.

The report, entitled South West Home Truths, was launched at a reception at Westminster Palace on Monday and highlights the growing need for more affordable housing in the county.

Salisbury’s average house price stands at £264,837, which is second highest in the report’s league table. The waiting list figures have increased by 70 per cent over the last five years.

The National Housing Federation, who published the report, is calling on the government to increase public investment to support the building of new high quality social housing, and make public land available at discounted rates.

It also wants to compel the nationalised banks to make mortgage funds available for shared ownership and ensure authorities assess housing need in all rural areas every three years and publish an action plan to deliver affordable homes.

Jenny Allen, south west regional manager for the federation, said: “While we welcome the Government’s efforts to inject more money into affordable housing we need high levels of funding to continue if we’re going to avoid a housing crisis in the future.

“The government must ensure that the region’s housing associations, who build the majority of affordable homes here, get the necessary funding and income required to enable them to deliver the homes we so desperately need.”