The government and planning authorities have been told they urgently need to address the "desperate shortage" of affordable housing in the Norwich area.
The UK's housing sector is once again in the eye of the storm as an ongoing affordability crisis is compounded by interest rate hikes, labour shortages and an overstretched planning system.
In Norwich, where the average property price stands at almost £300,000, many are finding it increasingly difficult to get onto the property ladder.
"There is absolutely a shortage of affordable housing," said Fran Whymark, district councillor for Wroxham ward and leader of the Conservative group at Broadland District Council.
"It is something we need to address and we do need more.
"But I also believe that if we can get people's outgoing, such as bills, under control then that will impact affordability."
Nationally, at least 10pc of all major housing developments with 10 or more homes should consist of affordable housing.
But many within local politics argue government guidelines are too vague - with ministers generally defining affordable properties as those with mortgage payments no more than those which would be paid in rent on council housing, but below market levels.
"It's unrealistic nonsense," said Deborah Sacks, Labour district councillor for Cringleford.
"We need a genuine definition of affordability because the system is dysfunctional.
"It's heartbreaking.
READ MORE: Plans for 43 homes branded 'visual blight' as worries about local services raised
"People should be able to buy a home on a modest salary rather than two very high salaries.
"South Norfolk Council should be building more affordable housing and stop acting like a money-grabbing private landlord."
A 2021 local housing assessment concluded that more than 10,000 new affordable homes were needed across Greater Norwich.
This set out annual council targets of 95 in Broadland, 254 in Norwich and 169 in South Norfolk.
Labour councillor Beth Jones, deputy leader of Norwich City Council and portfolio holder for housing, agreed that there is "a real need for more affordable housing".
"Demand has been made even more acute recently because of nutrient neutrality, which has limited our ability to approve new developments," she added.
"Meanwhile, every year the number of council homes available is reduced by Right to Buy.
"Despite these challenges, there are significant opportunities to provide thousands of much needed homes in the city, through the redevelopment of Anglia Square - which will see over 100 affordable homes delivered - and through proposed site allocations in the Greater Norwich Local Plan."
However, outgoing Conservative MP for Norwich North, Chloe Smith, argued issues around affordability have been exacerbated by the city council's "poor service" as a landlord.
READ MORE: Row erupts over 'awful proposal' to demolish historic village hall
"Affordable housing has been a long-standing problem in and around Norwich," she said.
"That’s why I’ve made it a constituency priority to get the homes Norwich families need.
"Too many constituents suffer from the long waiting lists for social housing in the city and the poor service by the city council as a landlord."
Labour MP for Norwich South, Clive Lewis, believes 13 years of Tory government is responsible for local authority problems though, agreeing that the need for "genuinely affordable" housing is clear by "every measure" of housing needs.
READ MORE: Locals oppose 'dangerous' plans for 14 homes in former city car forecourt
He said: "Local authorities are fighting the housing crisis with one hand tied behind their backs and the odds stacked in favour of landowners, developers and landlords.
"Councils need more resources and powers to keep private rents down, buy land and directly build homes.
"And as an absolute minimum, local authorities should no longer be forced to sell the council homes we already have."
Have you been impacted by a shortage of affordable housing Norwich? Get in touch at william.warnes@newsquest.co.uk.
The national picture
With a general election on the horizon, both the Conservatives and Labour have started to announce plans to tackle the housing crisis.
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities claims to have invested £11.5bn in its Affordable Homes Programme, which it hopes will "deliver tens of thousands of homes for rent and sale right across the country".
READ MORE: Go-ahead for medical centre as part of £25m NHS project is 'fantastic news'
However, the targets - now deemed "advisory" - only allocated 33,550 homes for social rent - a figure at odds with a waiting list of more than one million households.
The Labour Party has promised to give local authorities and communities new powers to develop land for more affordable housing - while also "closing loopholes developers exploit to avoid building more affordable housing and give first-time buyers first dibs on new developments".
However, no concrete plans for how these targets would be achieved have yet been announced.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here