A HOUSING charity says Malvern needs more affordable and community housing.

Professor Barry Jones, a trustee of EngageMalvern, said the government's latest white paper on housing does not address the real need for affordable housing in South Worcestershire.

He said: "There will be an unfettered scramble to develop new housing for high profits which will not meet the pressing needs of young people trying to get onto the housing ladder or older people in our society looking to downsize and certainly will not provide any truly affordable housing."

Prof. Jones was speaking ahead of EngageMalvern's Autumn 2020 plans for a major survey of housing needs across South Worcestershire.

The survey will address the housing needs of under-35s seeking affordable housing and over-65s looking to downsize.

READ MORE: Malvern experiencing staycation tourism boom

Residents and businesses will receive questionnaires set out in leaflets which they can return either online or by post.

The results will be analysed by the independent charity, Community First, who will produce a detailed report later due to be made available to all government agencies, local authorities, councils and businesses in South Worcestershire in Spring 2021 .

Cllr Beverley Nielsen, Independent Councillor on Malvern Hills District Council said: “I am very pleased to be supporting the work of both EngageMalvern, and Malvern Hills Community Led Housing Group, given the importance of what they’re looking to do in supporting our residents in Malvern through community-led development.

"I’m hearing from residents and businesses alike about the growing shortage of affordable housing in Malvern.

READ MORE: Husband and wife from Malvern celebrating 60 years of marriage

"The government’s new proposed methods of calculating future housing needs are very worrying indeed, but they do require a higher proportion of affordable housing.

"In Malvern Hills we are looking at increasing from 30 per cent to nearly 60 per cent of affordable homes each year. One way we can help to do this is through a community-led housing policy for Malvern Hills.

“We desperately want housing for our young people, for the apprentices and rising talent needed by our growing high tech businesses, for the key workers in education and healthcare, and for our elderly who want to live amongst the community they have known all their lives."