HOUSE prices in the borough have skyrocketed to more than ten times people's salaries, but claims of a housing crisis are 'outrageous' according to the town's MP.

Figures published by the National Housing Federation show Basingstoke and Deane residents face a challenge to get on the property market with the average cost of a home standing at £326,633 in 2016/17, 10.3 times the mean salary of £31,720 in 2017.

Meanwhile, renters were spending on average almost 40 per cent of their income per month as mean rents reached £916 in 2016/17.

The federation has argued the national crisis has risen from a shortfall of housing causing prices to rise. It claims between 2012 and 2016 there was a housing shortfall of 2,343 in the borough, the second highest in Hampshire, only behind the New Forest.

However, Basingstoke MP said the claims of a housing crisis in the town were “incredulous”, citing upcoming developments across the borough including Manydown, which will deliver 3,200 homes and Hounsome Fields, in Beggarwood, where there will be a 750 home development, among others.

Maria Miller told The Gazette: “It is extraordinary that the Housing Federation has taken this approach towards Basingstoke when we have built more homes than other areas in the last two decades.

“It is utterly outrageous to say there is a housing crisis, we have some of the most developed housing plans in the south east.

“It is incredulous that they are making these claims as we are building to benefit the future of borough to supply affordable homes in the area. Instead they should be looking to Basingstoke because we have such ambitious plans for our town.”

The National Housing Federation report, looking at the whole nationwide picture, stresses the importance of housing associations and the government working together.

The report outlines the lack of supply driving up house prices and rental costs, making them increasingly unaffordable. Anyone seeking to buy the average home in Basingstoke and Deane now needs to raise £74,659 to afford an 80 per cent mortgage.

Leader of the Basingstoke Labour Group Councillor Paul Harvey said a lack of affordable housing being built has contributed to the shortfall.

Cllr Harvey said: “It comes down to who are we actually building houses for? We want investment in local council housing and affordable housing, so people stay in the town and aren’t priced out of living in Basingstoke.

“We need to look at our local economy and support it and support those who need affordable housing.”

The borough council said it is taking a positive and proactive multi-pronged approach to how it supports the delivery of new home.

As part of this the borough council works in partnership with local housing associations to transform underused areas into new and affordable homes such as the sale of a council-owned site off the A340 Aldermaston Road which allowed for the building of 90 new homes, 36 of which will be affordable.

One of the organisations which is seeking to address the shortfall is VIVD Housing Association.

The Chapel Gate development, in Kingsclere Road, built in partnership with Barratt Homes, will provide 578 new homes of which 232 of will provide affordable options for local people, with affordable rent and shared ownership opportunities.

Director of new business and development at VIVD, Mike Shepherd said: “We’re strongly committed to building 1,200 new homes a year to help address the housing crisis in Hampshire.”

In 2016 the borough council adopted its Local Plan outlining the council's ambitions to meet housing need up to 2029, with a target of 40 percent affordable homes on qualifying sites.