A HOUSING association has announced plans to build 1,750 affordable homes across Somerset over the next five years - equivalent to around a property a day.

LiveWest, which owns more than 38,000 homes in the region, built 59 affordable homes in the county last year, including in Dulverton and Bleadon, despite problems with the pandemic.

A further 31 affordable homes will be built at a development in Wellington over late autumn and winter.

A total of 177 affordable homes will also be developed over the next five years at the Comeytrowe urban extension in Taunton - 108 for rent and 69 for shared ownership.

LiveWest’s Chief Executive Paul Crawford said: “We have had another year of strong progress and remain in good shape to continue our plans to build desperately-needed affordable homes in Somerset.

“Our financial figures provide the springboard for us to continue with our ambitious growth strategy where the focus of our development programme is very much on providing desperately needed affordable homes across the South West.

“Behind our financial and development figures is the story of how LiveWest has put social purpose, the quality of the homes we develop, health and safety and the needs of our customers at the heart of everything we do.

“As a not-for-profit organisation, we use our surplus to reinvest in our homes and communities, and to build more affordable housing.

“The operating surplus we have recorded is already being reinvested into building much-needed homes across the region.

“We are also keeping up momentum with the investment in our existing properties having spent £58million in maintaining and improving homes for our current customers.

“This will ensure that our homes remain great places to live, as well as protecting our investment for the future.

“Deepening our customer relationships is pivotal for LiveWest and are sustained efforts to meet our customers’ needs are highlighted with an 89 per cent satisfaction rate.

“In reflecting on the year’s achievements and challenges, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the unprecedented events that unfolded in the last quarter of the year associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have understandably had to adapt with pace in how we work to ensure that we continue to invest in our existing homes and places, improve services for customers and keep building new genuinely affordable homes in these exceptionally challenging circumstances.”