BUILDING work on affordable homes in Northumberland has been reduced with the pandemic blamed for a slowdown in schemes across England.

Homes England data shows building started or was completed on 324 affordable homes in the county in 2020-21 – 199 fewer than the previous year. However, the number of schemes was much higher than 2017-18, when 259 affordable homes started being built or were delivered.

Homes England is sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to fund new, affordable housing schemes.

Of the schemes progressing in the area in the year to March, 133 affordable homes were completed, including 72 affordable rentals, five social rentals and 53 affordable ownership homes.

Across England, 28,191 affordable homes were started in 2020-21.

This was 21 per cent fewer than the previous year. The proportion of affordable homes completed also dropped by 15 per cent to 24,023.