More and more first-time buyers are being locked out of the housing market in south west Hertfordshire, new research has shown.

Figures compiled by housing charity Shelter showed the gap growing between the cost of getting on the property ladder what many people on average incomes can afford.

The charity used average earnings data to work out young families and single people could afford in different areas if they had an average sized deposit.

However, when compared to figures compiled by Hertfordshire County Council in 2011, the affordability data showed average priced homes back then were even out of reach for many people.

Watford:

Average house price in 2011:
Detached - £535,100
Semi-detached - £290,500
Terraced - £231,400
Flat/maisonette - £176,000

Affordability threshold:
Couple without children - £208,895
Couple with children (one in full time work and one part time) - £157,649
Single person (working full time) - £109,772

Rickmansworth:

Average house price in 2011:
Detached - £717,000
Semi-detached - £355,500
Terraced - £312,600
Flat/maisonette - £238,000

Affordability threshold:
Couple without children - £220,844
Couple with children - £167,436
Single person - £111,506

Abbots Langley:

Average house price in 2011:
Detached - £464,200
Semi-detached - £304,200
Terraced - £260,100
Flat/maisonette - £159,700

Affordability threshold:
Couple without children - £220,844
Couple with children - £167,436
Single person - £111,506

Bushey:

Average house price in 2011:
Detached - £531,400
Semi-detached - £340,500
Terraced - £310,600
Flat/maisonette - £293,600

Affordability threshold:
Couple without children - £197,385
Couple with children - £145,900
Single person - £91,540

Radlett:

Average house price in 2011:
Detached - £952,100
Semi-detached - £405,900
Terraced - £388,700
Flat/maisonette - £349,800

Affordability threshold:
Couple without children - £197,385
Couple with children - £145,900
Single person - £91,540

Kings Langley:

Average house price in 2011:
Detached - £521,300
Semi-detached - £355,100
Terraced - £283,400
Flat/maisonette - £154,600

Affordability threshold:
Couple without children - £192,199
Couple with children - £136,825
Single person - £97,275

Watford Observer:

The findings from the charity prompted Watford Labour parliamentary candidate, Matt Turmaine, to argue for more house building in the town.

Mr Turmaine said: “Labour recognises that housing is a major part of the cost of living crisis forced upon the country by this Tory and Lib-Dem Coalition government. The figures speak for themselves. This is not an acceptable situation.

“This is why Labour has committed to building 200,000 homes per year by 2020.”

Mr Turmaine added that the party still did not support the building of 750 homes in West Watford, planned as part of the health campus, and said he wanted a “more intelligent” approach in the town.

Following the report, Richard Harrington, Watford’s Conservative MP, said: “The Government has put in place measures to try and make it easier for first time buyers to get onto the property ladder, for example more people have taken advantage of the Help to Buy scheme in Watford than they have in surrounding areas such as St Albans, Hertsmere or even Stevenage where property prices are lower.

“There is more to be done though and we should support people in Watford who want to stay near their families are buy here, to be able to do so. “

The MP added that the new homes bonus, which councils received for new developments in their area, was also encouraging housing building.

However elected mayor Dorothy Thornhill warned that allowing developers to fill “every nook and cranny” in the town would not solve the problem.

The Liberal Democrat said: “It is naive to think we can build ourselves out of it. This is a national problem with no easy answers.”

The mayor added that big developments, such as the 750-home health campus, were the best way of building more affordable housing in the area.