HOUSE building in Worcester is expected to slow down over the next two years - with council chiefs admitting the current rate of pace cannot continue.

As the Worcester News revealed last week, property building has rocketed 37 per cent in the city thanks to a construction boom.

But planning experts are now warning that a slowdown is almost certain to kick in - with the city's MP calling it "disappointing".

Adrian Becker, who deals with planning policy at Worcester City Council, said many of the plots ripe for development have already been taken and used up.

He also said a boom in building over the last 12 months was always likely given the steady economic growth and the adoption of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

In the 2015/16 financial year ending in March, 637 new properties were built in Worcester, a huge rise compared to the figures of 280 and 142 in the two 12-month periods prior to that.

Mr Becker said: "The figures are very good, it was 1998 the last time we had over 600 new houses in a single year.

"But to some extent you'd expect to have a good year when you adopt a new housing plan.

"So I'd express caution in future years - unless the pipeline keeps flowing, in two years' time we might be struggling to hit our targets.

"But other than that, it is good news."

He made his remarks during a planning committee debate, where Councillor Geoff Williams, a cabinet member, said job creation was just as vital.

"One of the goals of the city is economic growth and prosperity, therefore new employment has to be a priority," he said.

"What we don't want is to end up being a commuter city, we need to balance those aims of creating jobs and housing - they should be complimentary, but appear to be in conflict with each other."

Last year's tally of 637 new properties included 257 affordable homes, some 42 per cent of the total and more than double the average of 106 per year during the previous decade.

Worcester MP Robin Walker told this newspaper he would find it "extremely disappointing" if future targets are missed.

He said: "I would find it extremely disappointing if housing growth does slow down in the city, after such fantastic figures."