Residents in north Devon are being encouraged to have their say on new guidelines aimed at providing more affordable housing.

North Devon District Council has produced a set of requirements it expects developers to meet when building new homes.

The proposals include ensuring that between 25% and 50% of new houses built are affordable.

Housing built in rural areas would also only be made available to local people.

We cannot sit back and watch house prices continue to rise and see more and more people struggle to find homes Malcolm Prowse, North Devon District Council leader

Permission would be given for affordable housing to be built on sites in villages and other rural locations where development would not normally be allowed.

It is also proposed that 150 affordable houses are built in the district each year.

The action has been taken because of the increasing housing problems local people are facing due to the rise in property prices.

Between 1998 and 2002, house prices have gone up 82% in north Devon.

There has also been a massive 117% price rise at the lower end of the housing market.

The lack of affordable homes has led to an increase in the number of people on the housing register.

There are 2,500 people waiting for accommodation, which far outweighs the number of properties available.

Direct action

Council leader Malcolm Prowse said: "We want to make sure that everyone in north Devon has the chance to live in a decent home.

"We cannot sit back and watch house prices continue to rise and see more and more people struggle to find homes.

"It's time to take direct action to ensure this problem does not escalate any further."

The council says affordable homes should be sold at a price no more than three times the average annual income of local residents.

The average income in Devon is currently �20,000.