FIRST-TIME house buyers in Worcester are having their dreams of owning their own home snatched away, according to Worcester City Council's leader. 

Cllr Lynn Denham was speaking after new Land Registry figures revealed that first-time buyers on average are paying £16,000 more than they did at the same time last year to move to Worcester.  

But despite this, Cllr Denham added the new data shows Worcester is a popular place to call home and settle down and feels government plans could bring hope for the future. 

These concerning new Land Registry figures also show property prices in the city have shot up 7.6 per cent over the past 12 months. 

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The new data revealed first-time buyers in Worcester spent an average of £234,000 on their property in June.

This price is £16,000 more than it was a year ago, and a whopping £52,000 higher than in June 2019.

More generally, house prices have increased by one per cent in Worcester in June, more than the average for the West Midlands, with the average house price being £273,727. 

This figure was 8.1 per cent higher than the average price of a property in the West Midlands. 

Over the last year, the average sale price of property in Worcester rose by £19,000 – putting the area third among West Midlands’s 30 local authorities with price data for annual growth.

Worcester City Council leader Cllr Lynn Denham said: "This new data shows that Worcester is a popular place to call home and settle down.  

"We have so much to offer with a vibrant city centre, cultural activities and lots of parks and green spaces.  Who wouldn't want to live here?!

"It has become increasingly difficult for first-time buyers across the UK.  

"The huge increase in mortgage rates which occurred as a result of the disastrous Liz Truss mini-budget snatched the dream of home ownership away from many who had been saving up, that is desperately sad. 

"The new government's plans to grow the economy and increase housebuilding bring hope for the future."

This latest data follows last month's Office for National Statistics figures suggesting Worcester's private renters could be set to pay almost £1,000 more to landlords than last year.

Following this, landlord Cllr Jabba Riaz said a housing crisis and the cost of living had left renters stuck in a 'vicious cycle' of not being able to buy and struggling to afford rent.