AFFORDABLE housing can quickly become a contentious issue when discussing new plans to expand towns and villages across the county. 

But which council has been delivering the most over the last five years? 

Figures in the Somerset Homelessness Review and Strategy 2017, a document created by the five district councils working within Somerset, revealed the amount of social-rented, intermediate-rented and low-cost home ownership homes have been delivered. 

Taunton Deane Borough Council took the top spot, having delivered 1,033 'affordable' properties since 2012 up until 2016. 

In second place is South Somerset District Council with 954 delivered. 

Third is Sedgemoor with 741 delivered. 

Mendip ranked in fourth with 536 delivered. 

West Somerset had the fewest provided, with 170 delivered. 

Somerset County Gazette:

The table from the report. 

Cllr Terry Beale, Executive Councillor for Housing Services, said: “Taunton Deane Borough Council is aware of the desperate need for affordable housing and is proud to be one of a very few councils in the South West to embark on building its own stock of affordable properties.

"It is committed to providing affordable homes across Taunton Deane by building its own affordable housing and working with housing association partners to deliver homes people can afford.

"The council has made significant investments in housing and will continue to do so.

"Over the past five years it has delivered more than 1,000 affordable homes in Taunton Deane. The annual target of 200 homes year on year has been exceeded – in the last financial year a record 284 affordable homes were completed. 

"The council’s new build programme continues to deliver new homes:  94 affordable homes for rent at Creechbarrow Road were completed last year in partnership with a local housing association; a further 26 affordable homes are due to complete in 2018 at Weavers Arms, Rockwell Green, all retained by the council with two on a shared ownership basis.

"The council’s next area for significant investment is now under consultation in North Taunton.

"Other council owned developments have included those in West Bagborough, Bacon Drive and Normandy Drive in Taunton so providing a mix of rural and urban housing.”