ONLY 22 affordable homes were started in the region in six months, shock figures revealed yesterday – triggering fresh claims that the Government’s housing strategy is in tatters.

The astonishing slump – from 3,843 cheaper homes begun across the North-East and Yorkshire, in the previous 12 months – follows the slashing of housing schemes under the Government’s cuts programme.

An estimated 200,000 homes were stripped from the planning pipeline across the country after the General Election, in a cut that Labour put at £4bn.

A total of 11 projects, worth a total of £19.61m, were put on ice in this region, when the Coalition Government found what it called a black hole in Labour’s spending plans.

Now the Homes and Community Agency (HCA) has revealed that only 454 affordable homes were started across England in the April- September period – of which only 22 were in the North-East and Yorkshire.

The revelation will add to fears that tens of thousands of people are condemned to years on housing waiting lists, while young people have little hope of getting on the property ladder.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson said: “When you look at the number of affordable social homes in this area, it is going through the floor, while the numbers living in privatelyrented homes, with less regulation, are going through the roof.

“This is a really big issue for people and the Government needs to get its priorities right.”

The number of affordable homes that were completed in the region also fell sharply between April and September this year – dropping to 1,434, from 4,729 in 2010-11.

But Grant Shapps, the housing minister, insisted the Government was taking steps to get Britain building and deliver the affordable homes this country needs.

This week, ministers announced a £400m fund to kickstart the housing market, but it will build only 16,000 homes across the country, of which only 3,200 will be affordable.

Mr Shapps said: “‘Our affordable house building programme is already on track to deliver up to 170,000 affordable homes across the country over the next four years.

“On top of this, our housing strategy published this week will help get stalled construction sites back on track, bring empty homes back into use and make public sector land available for building.”

In July, it was announced that Tees Valley Housing, the region’s leading housing association, will deliver a share of 8,135 homes pledged for the North-East and Yorkshire.

But the exact number of properties planned will not be known until next year, when contracts are agreed and signed with the HCA.

In a statement, the HCA pointed to seasonal factors as an explanation for the slump, adding: “The rate of delivery is expected to increase in the second half of 2011-12.”