HEREFORDSHIRE is failing to hit government targets when it comes to house building, analysis by the BBC has revealed.

The BBC’s Shared Data Unit has compared government targets for each local authority area in the UK with the number of homes being built on average each year in those areas – and Herefordshire is less than half way to meeting its target, an investigation has shown.

According to the figures – the government’s assessment of the number of new homes needed in Herefordshire was 895 but analysis revealed that just 394 homes, on average, have been built or created through property conversions each year over the last ten years.

Local housing chiefs estimate between 771 to 812 new homes per year are needed to meet the demand but the area is 56 per cent off its target.

Councillor Philip Price, Herefordshire Council cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “These figures are from a standard method of calculating housing need which central Government has suggested as the starting point for calculating housing requirement in local plans, covering the period 2016-26.

"Herefordshire Council’s Core Strategy takes precedent in setting housing targets within the county. The council intends to begin a review of the Core Strategy in 2019 with reference to the Government’s standard methodology but an upcoming set of national household projections may bring about a change in housing targets."

He said the council recognise that there has been an under-provision of housing against the council's target and they are working to address this.

Coun Price added: "Since 2008 we have achieved just under 70 per cent of our housing targets, including 1,422 affordable houses, with a further 1,173 projected up to 2022.

"In the past two years Herefordshire’s housing supply has increased considerably and data from April 2017 suggests land is available for almost 6,300 new dwellings.

“We are working closely with government agencies to bring forward strategic housing sites in urban areas across the county in association with critical elements of infrastructure, most notably the Hereford bypass. Currently in development, the bypass will help the council to meet the county’s growth ambitions and provide for the housing requirements across Herefordshire.”