A HOUSING association chief has promised that his organisation will build more homes to help tackle the housing shortage.

Basingstoke based Sentinel Housing Association has started building 200 new homes in the last three months in north Hampshire, and has signed deals on four partnership sites to provide a further 169 homes.

The projects include 27 new homes, for rent and shared ownership, including eight in Longcroft Road, Kingsclere, and 62 new homes with Barratt David Wilson at the second phase of a development at Dilly Lane, Hartley Wintney.

Mike Shepherd, development director at Sentinel, said: “With the average South East house price at £216,618 there’s a huge demand for affordable housing.

“We’re determined to do all we can to help. We’ve set ourselves a target to build 500 homes a year over the next three years.

“And the challenge for us is to continue this level of development against a backdrop of continued public spending cuts. These deals mean we’re well on our way to achieving our ambition this year.”

Sentinel is also buying a number of existing homes to help ease the housing waiting lists.

So far, the company has bought 12 properties, and has a further nine in the pipeline in the Basingstoke area.