Potential sites are being considered for affordable housing in Reydon – to help local people stay in the area.

The plans are in the 'very early stages', with development consultants Pathfinder assessing which sites are available and speaking to landowners in the area.

In a presentation to Reydon Parish Council, Martin Aust, a consultant from Pathfinder acting on behalf of Waveney District Council, presented a map of possible sites for the housing.

These were land opposite Keens Lane, land the other side of Green Lane, a site just past the junction with School Lane on the same side of the road as the church and land in Cox's Lane.

Mr Aust told The Journal: 'We are in the very early stages of exploring the possibility of an affordable housing scheme primarily to develop some housing for rent to local people with strong connections to Reydon and Southwold.

'We are seeing what sites are available and finding landowners who are willing to talk to us. Seeing what in planning terms would be acceptable to our planning colleagues and at the same time talking to the parish council to seek their views.'

He added: 'There will definitely be a public consultation before any planning application is submitted.'

There are currently 3,000 households on the housing register in Waveney, with 1,000 being described as 'in very urgent need'.

Robert Prince, head of housing at Waveney District Council, said: 'We are aware of people on the housing register and we can look into that, but in places like Reydon and Southwold a lot of people don't come on because they know it's very difficult to get houses in that area. So there will be some hidden needs.'

Mr Prince said the aim was to build smaller homes, which could release some of the three-bedroom family houses on the register.

The district council and Mr Aust are in talks with landowners and once a site is secured, it is hoped people would be able to move in by 2016.

'The thing that is always an issue is the availability of land at the right price,' said Mr Prince.

'We are hoping to find a piece of land that won't cost the earth and build the homes on that. We are talking to one or two landowners at the moment and we will be looking to consult deeply with the public to find out what the needs are.'

Pathfinder Development Consultants is not in any way connected to the Waveney Pathfinder project, which ended in March.

What do you think of the plans? Are you waiting for affordable housing in Reydon? Email kathryn.bradley@archant.co.uk or write to The Editor, Lowestoft Journal, 147 London Road North, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 1NB.