Almost 11,000 homes could be built in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin over the next five years despite the national recession which has hampered house building in the county, new figures have shown.

And at least 1,900 of the properties will be affordable, providing a vital lifeline to families struggling to get their first foot on the housing ladder. But council bosses admitted the last year had been tough with the recession having a “significant” impact on homes being completed.

The latest house-building figures were released to the Shropshire Star by Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council.

In the Shropshire-controlled area of the county 6,552 homes are expected to be built between this financial year and the end of 2013-14, including 1,210 affordable properties in the first three years.

In Telford & Wrekin 4,443 homes are expected to be built over the same period, including at least 750 affordable homes, although council chiefs estimate that this figure could rise to as many as 1,000 affordable properties.

Last year(08/09) 462 homes were built in the Telford & Wrekin borough, including 408 in Telford itself, 35 in Newport and 19 in rural areas.

In Shropshire 1,265 properties were completed in 2008-09, including 362 affordable homes.

Of the 270 affordable properties in Shropshire planned for this year (09/10), 93 are expected to be built in the north of the county, 82 in the central area including Shrewsbury and 95 in the south area including Bridgnorth.

But housing experts for each council say the past 12 months have been tough because of the recession, although the number of homes being built is expected to rise as the economic climate improves.

Councillor Malcolm Price, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for housing, said the authority’s housing enabling and implementation team had been “instrumental” in trying to help new affordable homes to be built despite “difficult economic times”.

Katherine Kynaston, strategic housing manager for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “The recession has had a significant impact on the number of houses being completed and also makes providing accurate predictions at this point very difficult.

“The council is working closely with local developers, housing associations and the Homes & Communities Agency to better understand what is viable in the current market and to support developers bringing sites forward.”

By John Kirk