Homes are ‘not available’

SOME residents desperate to be housed will not be entitled to one of dozens of ‘affordable’ flats planned for Stockport.

Viaduct Housing Partnership, in collaboration with Stockport Homes and the borough council, is seeking permission to develop land off Stockholm Road, Adswood.

The organisation plans to build two three-storey apartment blocks containing a mix of one and two-bed apartments.

One block would house 17 two-bed flats, available for shared ownership, and the other would contain 18 one and six two-bed flats offered for affordable rent.

However, a document submitted by the partnership stated that it was ‘bidding’ for cash from the government’s shared ownership scheme in order to deliver the homes.

“Funding is available under this programme to provide homes for shared ownership and affordable rent but social rent is not supported,” read the report.

“In 2012 central government ended grant funding for social rent in favour of affordable rent levels. Therefore, the partnership is unable to meet the council’s affordable housing policy in relation to social rent. However, these new affordable homes will contribute towards meeting the council’s objective to increase the supply of affordable homes.”

A design document stated that a majority of the flats would be occupied by ‘young professionals’ – and that this would help ensure the ‘active population’ will stay in the area.