A MAJOR action campaign to win more affordable housing in Devon has received the backing of a round table summit involving local authorities, housing organisations and special interest groups.

The round table was organised by Devon County Council with the aim of finding solutions to Devon?s serious lack of homes cheap enough for local people to buy or rent.

Peter Doyle of the county council said organisations which took part were warning the Government there was an urgent need for more resources if decent homes were to be provided for all.

?Devon has similar problems to the South East, yet does not receive the same level of help. Right to buy legislation and the reduced council tax on second homes are also undermining attempts to provide affordable housing in the midst of a soaring property market,? he said.

In addition to righting these

contributory factors, the organisations considered the Government should consider imposing an additional council tax premium on second homes in areas where the lack of affordable housing for local people was acute.

They also singled out the cost of developing brownfield land and the negative image of social housing as areas that needed improving, together with raising public awareness of the importance of new housing to meet social needs and provide balanced communities.

In 2001 the average cost of a house in Devon was £114,419 ? more than six times the average earnings of £18,730 ? with prices having risen by 48% since 1998.

The round table has set itself a number of ideas to investigate, including investigating ways of retaining affordable housing in perpetuity, researching the social and health costs of failing to provide decent housing for all, and developing good quality housing advice.

Cllr Brian Greenslade, chairman of the round table, said there was ?a strong consensus about the seriousness of the situation, its impact on people?s quality of life and the desire to work in partnership to secure lasting solutions for the people of Devon?.

Organisations present at the round table included West Devon Borough Council, Devon and

Cornwall Housing Association, Shelter, the Countryside Agency and the Housing Corporation.

The coalition builds on the work of the Devon Strategic Housing Group, whose secretary, Marion Playle, said had been working hard to tackle the problem of affordable housing.

?We are very encouraged that others are keen to help us achieve a better deal for those who need an affordable home,? she said.