6,414 on housing list

AVERAGE house prices in Oldham are almost seven times the average annual individual wage, according to a poll.

The National Housing Federation (NHF) said an avearage house in the borough costs £128,539 with the average individual salary at £19,391.

The federation, which represents independent, not-for-profit housing associations in England claims it would take 274,190 years to clear the backlog of Greater Manchester families waiting for social housing.

There are 6,414 Oldhamers on the waiting list, according to the survey —106,652 for the whole of Greater Manchester.

Jon Longden, NHF lead manager for the North-West, said: “With the lowest number of new homes for 90 years, the only things we are building are long-term problems for schooling, health and jobs.

The North-West desperately needs a strong social housing sector to help economic development.

“The Government must act quickly so more affordable homes are built and empty homes are brought back into use before the North’s broken housing market gets any worse.”