YORK’S MP has called on the Government to help the city get extra money for affordable housing.

Hugh Bayley issued his call during a meeting with top officials from the Homes And Communities Agency at the Guildhall and city leaders.

The discussion was arranged after Mr Bayley raised the issue of what he says is a shortage of affordable housing in York in July.

“York has such a severe shortage of affordable housing. The council should be bidding aggressively for government support for new family housing in York,” said Mr Bayley.

“The Government is putting a lot of extra money into housing to build new environmentally-friendly eco-homes and to kick-start housing developments which have had to be halted because of the economic downturn.”

He also called for action on the development of the former British Sugar factory in west York and the York Central site.