House prices in Telford & Wrekin have nearly doubled in the last six years – but are still more than £60,000 lower than the national average, a new report reveals.

The council document also says wages in the borough have risen just 10 per cent in the same period – meaning more and more people face a financial nightmare if they want to buy a home.

The house price jump of 96 per cent is eight percentage points more than the England and Wales average and five percentage points higher than the West Midlands regional average.

But the average pay packet among borough workers has risen more slowly than everywhere else. Across the region the wage rise was 13 per cent, compared to 15 per cent across England and Wales.

It leaves Telford & Wrekin workers making £73.30 less per week than the average Englishman.

The figures are highlighted in Telford & Wrekin Council’s annual review of progress of its plans for developing homes and businesses. It says the gap between house prices and slower wage rises means the borough needs more social and lower cost housing.

However, the report also shows housing for some in Telford is more affordable than elsewhere in England.

The town’s affordability ratio, which compares the earnings of the lowest-paid 25 per cent to the cheapest 25 per cent of homes, is 6.09, better than the West Midlands score of 6.78 and the England score of 7.12.

But officers report progress in building “affordable homes” is “below” the council’s target. They say: “Although each has risen since 2001, wage increases have been at a much lower rate than the average rise in house prices.”

Councillor Keith Austin, the council’s Labour group leader, said it was crucial to build more affordable homes. “It is housing young people and people on low incomes can afford,” he said.

The annual monitoring report on the Local Development Framework, to go before cabinet on December 10, also finds the amount of building on “brown field” land is “well above target” and recycling and public transport use is increasing.