THE crisis in affordable housing in West Devon was this week described as a ?human disaster of huge proportions?.

It followed news that Government money promised to combat the problem in the South West had instead been allocated to London and the South East.

The cash switch prompted a warning from West Devon MP John Burnett that the borough was facing a human disaster of huge proportions.

He said: ?It is heartbreaking to sit in my surgeries when local people come to me who have nowhere to go for housing.

?West Devon Borough Council and the housing associations are doing all they can with minimum resources and now to have this kick in the teeth by the Government is unforgivable.

?For the Government to take away this money from us in the South West would be inexcusable and will exacerbate our already dire housing problem.?

For the coming year, the Government has directed £200-million be set aside to deliver additional new homes in London and the South East through a ?Challenge Fund?, in addition to more than £600-million already earmarked for affordable housing in the area through the Approved Development Programme.

Only £70-million has been set aside for the entire South West region over the same period.

Mr Burnett said he would raise the issue in parliament and had requested an adjournment debate on affordable housing in the region.

Devon and Cornwall Housing Association chief executive Colin Shaw said money agencies had thought would be used in Devon and Cornwall would now go to the South East.

Mr Shaw said: ?No-one is saying they don?t need money in the South East too, but we have got to fight for our fair share of the allocation.

?We have an identical need in the South West as the South East, except here people have low incomes which makes it an even bigger problem.?

Mr Shaw said younger people in West Devon who wanted to work locally often found they were unable to afford to live locally and had to move further away. This often had a damaging effect on rural villages, where schools, post offices and shops needed families living in the community to maintain amenities and community life.

?Village life will change if younger people can?t access affordable housing,? warned Mr Shaw.

?Affordable housing is at the top of every strategy in the South West. We need appropriate funding.?

A special session of West Devon?s Local Plan Inquiry, which opened this week, has been set aside to discuss the issue. At the affordable housing session on Tuesday, March 25, the council will present a topic paper covering the issues.

Steve Phillips, director of housing services at West Devon Homes, which manages the council?s housing stock, said: ?It is very disappointing the Government has not sought to target extra funding towards the South West when we are clearly suffering from many of the same pressures that are evident in London and the South East.

?What this will mean is the provision of more good quality affordable homes in West Devon will continue to fall well short of what is required.?

West Devon?s housing needs survey carried out in October 2000 found 363 additional affordable homes per year would be needed over the next five years to meet existing and future need.

The situation has worsened over the last two years as house prices in West Devon have continued to rise. Between October 2000 and April 2002 wages increased by 6%, but house prices in West Devon during the period increased by more than 25%.