WINCHESTER City Council is increasing its target for building affordable homes.

The council already has a target of 300 new homes by 2021.

But now the Conservative council leader Caroline Horrill says they want to add another 100 to the target.

Winchester has been among the few authorities across the country building a sizeable number of homes for rent to people on the waiting list.

Council leader Caroline Horrill said Winchester had shown the Government a track record of house-building since the policy was launched under the leadership of George Beckett.

As a result the Government was making more money available to help the council build more.

Cllr Horrill said: “We will promise to build more affordable homes across the district now we have greater access to government cash. It is the right thing to do in an area with high property prices and it’s fair to the younger generation who feel they can’t get on the housing ladder.”

Among the sites being looked at are the garages at the blocks of flats on Winnall Manor Road.

The housing pledge was among six that the council has unveiled, although some have been flagged before.

The five others are:

  • Kerbside glass collection will be introduced by 2019 at a cost of £100,000 starting early spring, if the council continues with its existing contractor;

  • Taxi policy to be overhauled with a plan for a liveried colour to show people that standards of local knowledge, emissions and safeguarding are being met. The council will also promise electric taxi use with rapid charging points;

  • The council to work with the district’s 45 parish councils with promises to improve planning and enforcement;

  • A fly tipping ‘hit squad’ to be set up with covert cameras to catch offenders and a rapid response team to clear up across the district;

  • A £100,000 budget is promised to help with initiatives to promote ‘pride in our place’. New projects will be identified in the coming months.

Cllr Horrill said: “These announcements show that a Conservative-led council will deliver even more of the services that residents want.

“It also shows we have listened intently to residents and we want to put into practice what they have said, very much in the same way we have listened to their views on regenerating central Winchester, the sport and leisure park and Station Approach.

“The fact is the council needs to start collecting glass at the kerbside because that’s what people tell us they want for their council tax so we will do it.

“There has been concern over taxis that were licensed in other areas and people have told us they want to feel safe knowing they’re getting into a local taxi that meets council standards.”