MORE than 9,000 individuals and families are on the borough's housing register and waiting for a council home in the borough – 60 pc more than two years ago.

Of the 9,079 current applications for a council home, 523 people waiting are in urgent need of accommodation – an increase of 187 per cent compared to 2018.

Wigan Council received 109 bids per property on average this year, up 118 per cent.

The local authority is also anticipating 559 households may soon face eviction as a suspension of eviction proceedings during lockdown has now been lifted.

Joanne Willmott, Wigan Council’s director of homes and communities, revealed the figures to the housing advisory panel at a meeting on Monday.

She said: “Our teams are working relentlessly to do everything they possibly can to support tenants but the reality is that there are not enough council homes to meet the demand that we’re seeing – prior to Covid – and that has been accelerated over the past six-month period.”

Wigan Council will continue its “proactive work” with the private rented sector to increase the amount and choice of affordable quality homes for rent.

The local authority has also created an ethical letting agency which aims to offer tenants a guaranteed long-term lease at an affordable rental price.

But supply of council housing is still an issue, according to the director.

The long-term impact of the Right to Buy scheme has seen the number of council properties reduce from 37,396 to 21,737, a loss of 42 pc since 1981.

Ms Willmott said the council is investigating how to increase its housing stock.

She said: “We’re also working hard to see how we can increase our council stock and we’ve got a number of new developments that are due to start in the new year to start to cater to the increased demand that we’re seeing.

“We’re also exploring every opportunity to bring in additional resources.”

Wigan Council submitted a bid to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government for further funding to increase temporary and permanent accommodation for people who struggled with homelessness.

The allocation of the first tranche of funding was announced a few days ago.

Wigan bid for £900,000 of funding but will only receive £250,000.

Ms Willmott said any extra money is welcome, but she was still “disappointed”.