A CAMPAIGN has been launched to address the lack of affordable housing in Thornbury.

Around 1,455 new homes are planned for the town over the next few years, with the Thornbury Fields and Park Farm developments currently under construction and applications submitted for Post Farm and Cleve Park.

Each development claims to have a sufficient number of “affordable housing” to meet government standards, offering select homes at 80 per cent of the market value, but campaigners feel lower income families and first -time buyers will be priced out of the market.

Eva Lily Fielding started the campaign for more affordable homes after seeing the frustration of many young people in and around the town who are unable to get on the property ladder.

“I find it ridiculous they can call these homes affordable – affordable to whom?,” said the Oldbury resident, who is a former Castle School and Marlwood School pupil.

“The average income in the Thornbury area is just over £21,000, but to buy a new home in one of the developments it is likely the household salary would need to be around £35,000.

“This means the average person either has the option of living with a partner or moving elsewhere.”

Eva Lily, 22, said she planned to approach South Gloucestershire Council for support in talking to housing associations and developers about building more homes which are affordable for first -time buyers.

“People see all the houses going up in Thornbury, and think it means their children can grow up here, but it isn’t really the case,” she said. “I hope to get the councils on board with the fact we should be building more economical, environmental and affordable homes, in the truest sense of the term.

“The more people I can get on board, the more of a noise we can make to ensure it goes up for discussion in Parliament.

“I do think the government should build more houses. The problem however has been that in the past two governments, they have not built enough and we are now playing catch up.”

She said the flaws in the current system could be fixed if houses were made cheaper from the start, rather than focusing on incentives like the Help to Buy scheme.

“In the current format, the money comes into the system right at the end, after the developers and other parties have received their pay-out.

“The whole ethos is to create business, rather than house people, which I think is fundamentally wrong.

“It then comes down to normal people, who have to save for years to afford a home.”

In a speech to members of Thornbury Town Council at Tuesday’s meeting, Eva Lily called on councillors to support her campaign.

Afterwards, Cllr Matthew Stringer said: “Without one- to -two-bedroom properties, we will see young people leave the town – these are the people we sorely want to keep around.”

Cllr Martin Truman added: “We as a council are already thinking the same thing as Eva Lily so it is good to have someone from the public coming forward.

Cllr Shirley Holloway said: “There is a need for housing but not the luxurious four- and five -bedroom houses that are currently going up.”

To join the campaign, email evalilyfielding@hotmail.com