MORE than half of the near 4,000 people on the housing waiting list in the most expensive area of Gwent are in work.

The figure was highlighted at a meeting to discuss a plan setting out how up to 2,100 new homes could be built up until 2033 as well as earmarking land for employment and which areas should be protected from development.

Michelle Morgan, of Monmouthshire Housing Association, the county’s largest social housing provider, backed the replacement local development plan being drawn up by the county council and said it would address the lack of affordable housing.

The Labour-led council’s policy will require half of all sites allocated for housing be for affordable homes, including a mix of those available for social rent and shared ownership, providing more than 1,000 new affordable homes.

The plan is the first time a Welsh council has proposed a 50 per cent affordability requirement on new developments and homes will also have to be ‘net zero carbon’ producing as much heating, lighting and hot water as they use through technology such as solar panels.

Ms Morgan was one of 13 public speakers to address a special Monmouthshire County Council scrutiny session, considering 4,000 responses to the consultation launched by the council in........

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