Hundreds of young adults are without their own homes because of the soaring cost of housing, a survey has revealed.

More than 2,500 new low-cost homes are thought to be needed in Adur over the next five years to keep up with the demand, although housing officers say they have no way of reaching that target.

Housing officer Paul Spedding said: "It's one of the most important issues we are going to face for the next few years.

"Adur is already one of the cheapest areas in West Sussex for property. If people are having trouble here, where else do they go?"

The council sent out 9,000 questionnaires to residents in March asking about their housing situation and how their their needs might change over the next five years for its Housing Needs Survey.

The survey revealed 287 'hidden households' forming in Adur each year - young singles, couples and families who live with parents and other relatives because they cannot afford to move out.

The average home in Adur costs £140,209. Incomes of £24,000 are needed to buy a one-bedroom flat and £33,500 for a two-bedroom terrace in Lancing, the cheapest area in the district. Yet nearly a quarter of households have incomes of less than £10,000.

Council bosses discovered they needed to provide 547 new low-cost homes each year to solve the problem. They provide just 50 at present.

The council can insist 30 per cent of new housing comes in the form of low-cost housing association-managed homes.

Officers are also carrying out an urban capacity study of the district to see if any council-owned land can be earmarked for low-cost housing.

But even if more space is found, the authority will struggle to meet demand.

The survey found the picture was brighter elsewhere, with 91 per cent of respondents reporting they lived in adequate housing.

Paul Graysmark, the council's community services chairman, said: "Having this knowledge will be very useful for future developments in Adur.

"It will help us ensure we get the right new housing for the community's needs.

"The council realises it faces many challenges ahead and will be using this information when preparing the local plan and other housing-related strategies."

Friday July 11, 2003