Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has defended a council’s record on affordable housing.

Just 96 of the 514 new homes in the South Oxhey regeneration scheme will be available for less than the market rate – despite Three Rivers District Council saying there would be 231.

But Mr Farron says the authority has a “track record” of providing affordable homes in the district.

This is despite house prices escalating in recent years, making it one of the most expensive areas to rent outside of London. A one-bedroom flat in Station Road, Rickmansworth, was sold for more than £300,000 in July.

The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale said: “Our aspiration is to make sure we have a much higher percentage of affordable homes. Sometimes, it is case of there being a negotiation with the developer. Do you get 18 per cent of a new development being affordable or nothing?

“That is a decision you have got to take sometimes. Our aspiration and our track record across the district shows we provide affordable housing in numbers that no one else does.

“There is a magnet bringing people to live in this area and as a result, house prices are ludicrously high and wages do not match that.

“The answer is to provide shared ownership and housing association properties.”

Farron – who took over as leader of the party in July – said homes should be built “where the communities want them” and should not eat into the Green Belt.

Speaking whilst visiting Abbots Langley yesterday, Mr Farron insisted the party “did well” in local elections in Three Rivers and Watford.

The Lib Dems lost overall control of Three Rivers District Council and Labour made gains in Watford, weakening the party’s hold on the council.

“The tough election we had last year came after five years in government,” the former president of the party said.

“I think being in government affected the way we are seen. But the area in which people perceive us accurately, is stronger than ever and that is in local government.

“The reason the team have won here in the last couple of decades is because we do politics differently and people get a sense that when they vote Liberal Democrat, they are voting for people who get things done, who listen and who will make a difference to their community.

“You should never be the council’s representative to the people. You should always be the people’s representative to the council. You should always be on the side of the people in your community and not be there to defend the decisions councils make.

“The re-birth of the Liberal Democrats and the renewal of the Liberal Democrats as a national force comes from us being a force in local government.”

Farron said more money needed to be invested in flood defences.

He said: “For some communities you never know when it is going to be you next, so we need to be investing in flood defences and protect our environment otherwise flooding is more likely.”

Roads in Watford, Three Rivers and Bushey were flooded in 2014 after torrential rain meant rivers burst their banks.

Sections of the River Chess have been dredged by the Environment Agency but Mr Farron says the £50million set aside by the government to deal with flood damage was just 10 per cent of the estimated £500m damage wreaked by Storm Desmond in Cumbria.