THE Ribble Valley’s housing list could take 13 years to clear, it has been revealed.

The waiting list for affordable homes stands at 840 but only 63 were let last year by housing bosses, charity Shelter said.

The Ribble Valley’s situation is the worst in East Lancashire and among the “most desperate” in the country according to the charity.

It has led Shelter to demand the Government make housing a priority, with Ribble Valley Council hamstrung by poor funding, making it difficult to provide new homes.

Shelter said residents on the Ribble Valley waiting list could be waiting until 2022 for homes and that was before more people in need joined the list.

Deputy director for policy Caroline Davey said: “The figures clearly show the desperate lack of affordable housing in Ribble Valley and how we are simply not building enough homes to meet the growing demand.

“The news will be a major blow to hundreds of people who may have to spend this Christmas, and many more to come, in run down or unaffordable housing, or possibly trapped in temporary or overcrowded accommodation.

“The only way to give people hope is for the Government and political parties to make housing investment a top election priority.”

According to Shelter’s figures, the average waiting time for housing in the North West is five years and seven years nationally.

However, elsewhere in East Lancashire, the situation is better.

Shelter said Blackburn with Darwen’s list would take six years to clear, Hyndburn’s would take four-and-a-half years to shift, Pendle’s would take six years to clear and Rossendale’s would clear in five-and-a-half years.

In Burnley, which has thousands of empty homes, the figure was six months.

Stuart Hirst, Ribble Valley councillor with responsibility for housing, said: “Ribble Valley receives the lowest housing funding allocation in the North West and therefore the council’s ability to deliver schemes is limited.

“Despite these financial restraints, the number of affordable units delivered in the area in 2009/10 has almost doubled compared to last year.”

Ribble Valley’s stock is now managed by housing associations, including Ribble Valley Homes, but partly funded by the borough council.