Local authorities built just 142 houses last year

Just 142 new houses were built by the country’s 31 local authorities last year amid a growing housing and homelessness crisis, according to new official figures.

A total of 16,357 new social housing units were provided by city and county councils last year up from 9,081 in 2015. Unlike previous years the 2016 figures also include units under various schemes such as the Housing Assistant Payment programme which were provided by voluntary housing associations and co-operatives.

The further expansion of Housing Assistant Payments last year accounted for the vast majority of new social housing units — over 12,000.