SUE in stalemate over affordable homes
BIG NAME housebuilders behind the Earl Shilton SUE claim they cannot afford to provide any social housing on the huge site, despite it being earmarked for 1,600 new homes.
The consortium say there are concerns about viability and as part of the 106 agreement negotiations have submitted an appraisal showing why they can’t deliver on the affordable homes promise.
However, planning chiefs at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council say the consortium’s figures are wrong and all the expected affordable properties should be constructed. The authority generally requests 20% of any new development is offered as social housing either in conjunction with a housing association or through council rental - which equates to around 320 homes out of the 1,600.
The row has forced a further stalemate in the long-running saga of the controversial development which has been in the pipeline since 2009.
Councillor Richard Allen (Con Earl Shilton) said: “The situation is the consortium completed a viability study which demonstrated they could not provide any affordable housing nor any replacement contributions.
“There are arguments about building costs and housing values per square foot with the consortium detailing what they say the development will cost to complete along with potential revenue including any profit margin they expect.
“In response we have undertaken our own study with what we believe to be the correct costs and figures and we are convinced the consortium should be able to deliver the affordable housing as agreed.”
Discussions are ongoing but with such a disparity in opinions any positive outcome soon on the 200 acre scheme seems unlikely.
Submission of an outline planning application is subject to consensus on the s106 agreement.
An update to the council’s planning committee on the situation outlined the stalling and suggested utter frustration with the report echoing Cllr Allen and saying “A meeting has taken place to seek to iron out different opinions but it is unlikely that agreement will be reached at this time because it is extremely difficult to accurately predict build costs and sales values.
“The developer has been requested to demonstrate their commitment to the project by submitting their planning application at the earliest opportunity. They have been advised that the continued delays with progress- ing the scheme is not acceptable to the council and that all options for delivering the council’s housing needs will be considered as part of the Local Plan review.”
A spokesman for the consortium which includes Barwood Homes, Bloor Homes and Jelsons, said: “We are currently engaged in discussions with the local authority and are working towards submitting a planning application for the entire site at the earliest time.”
Earl Shilton councillors and residents have always been wary of the SUE and how much it will benefit the town - especially since the residential development is essentially outward facing without an easy link into the urban centre of Earl Shilton.
Concerns have also been raised about any s106 money and whether this will actually filter down to the existing settlement and its residents.