A NEW pledge to increase affordable housing will build on the "good work" in Denbighshire of the past two years.

Since 2017, 154 homes - 30 percent or about a third - provided in the county were classed as affordable and include new builds, empty homes returned to use and the re-purchase of former council houses

Denbighshire County Council has also pledged to support the development of 1,000 new homes in Denbighshire between 2017 and 2022, with 260 of those designated as affordable homes and 170 as council houses.

Cllr Tony Thomas, lead member for the council housing and communities, said: “The council recognised a need to ensure housing is available to meet the needs of Denbighshire residents.

“We have been working closely with developers and in partnership with registered social landlords to ensure demand in the county is being met."

As well as properties already built, there are currently 60 affordable housing units on mixed sites under construction in Rhewl, Rhuddlan, Llangollen, Rhyl, Llanfair DC and Dyserth.

A further 156 units on 100 percent affordable housing sites are expected to be completed by 2020, including sites in Trefnant and Rhyl, and there are sites with planning permission for new council homes including the former Bodnant School and the Dell in Prestatyn.

A planning application has also been submitted for 22 new homes on council owned land next to Tan y Sgubor in upper Denbigh.

Cllr Thomas added: “Building on the good work that has already taken place, we are expecting a rise in the level of affordable housing completed over the next few years. Providing more houses, and more affordable homes in particular, across our communities is part of our work to ensure we retain more young people in the county.

All new council homes are being built to the highest energy efficiency standards.

A property on Brighton Road, Rhyl, has been renovated by the Council to create three new apartments.