SHANGHAI plans to build more affordable homes next year, as the city increases efforts to improve the living standard of middle to low income households.

The city will see affordable housing totaling 15 million square meters built in 2011 - an increase of 25 percent on 2010, Liu Haisheng, director of the Shanghai Housing Support and Building Administration Bureau, told a municipal conference yesterday.

The city's affordable housing program mainly includes budget homes, houses built for relocated residents and public housing units for rental.

Homes for relocated residents will account for 8 million square meters; budget homes are allocated 5 million square meters; and public rent units 2 million square meters.

Shanghai began work on more than 12 million square meters of affordable housing this year.

The city has been striving hard to increase the supply of affordable housing as rapidly surging home prices have priced people on lower incomes out of the market.

New home price in Shanghai rose to 22,468 yuan (US$3,373) per square meter on average in November, extending growth for the 5th consecutive month, according to Shanghai Uwin Real Estate Information Services Co.