A CASH injection of £1.5m has been approved for Trafford's affordable housing initiative.

Trafford Council is to combine the financial contributions it receives from developers to form the ‘Trafford Affordable Housing Fund’.

Council leader Andrew Western said he was hopeful the cash would fund up to 30 housing association properties.

He added: “Trafford, like many other areas, desperately needs new homes that people can afford to live in.

“There is a massive gap between average wages and property prices.

“Many people who were born and raised in the borough can no longer afford to live in either rented accommodation or own their home – and we need to address this.”

Cllr Western continued: “I am committed to making more homes available to residents that they can realistically afford.  

“This new fund will see us working with our registered providers to build new homes available for social rent.

“They will also be allocated to residents who are already on our waiting list.”

A report tabled at the council’s recent executive committee meeting said there is disparity in the spread of social housing within the borough and a lack of supply affects affordability.

“Particularly for those residents living in the southern areas of the borough,” the report adds.

“Trafford also has a relatively small private rented sector and over the last 16 years it has grown at half the rate compared to the rest of Greater Manchester.

“Average rentals are £750 per month and due to the costs of accessing home ownership, demand is high and prices will increase.”

The document stated that the authority is committed to increasing the amount of affordable housing.

The council said the fund will play a key part in delivering the homes – and will ‘complement’ the government’s shared ownership scheme.

In the current 2016-21 programme, Trafford has been allocated £7.6m in grant funding.