‘NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING’ AS 52 FLATS APPROVED
Plan ‘unviable’ otherwise, councillors told
MORE than 50 flats for rent are set to be built along a main road leading to Hanley – but there will be no affordable housing.
The Broad Street site, most recently occupied by a carpet and furniture store, will provide space for two retail units on the ground floor as part of the new development.
And 52 two-bedroom ‘build to rent’ apartments will be located across the first, second, third and fourth floors.
City councillors approved the application on Wednesday.
Committee members heard the retail units would be restricted to selling ‘bulky goods’ only and the apartments would ‘contribute to the provision of high quality residential options to serve the city centre’.
Planning policy usually requires 25 per cent affordable housing on developments of 15 residential units or more in Stoke-on-trent.
But a report to the planning committee said: “The current application does not propose to provide any form of affordable housing, due to viability.
“The applicant’s position is that the scheme is only marginally viable (expected developer return of 10 per cent – which is less than the 15-20 per cent set out in national guidance), and so adding a requirement for affordable housing, either on-site as affordable private rent units, or as a financial contribution towards provision off-site, would have a further negative effect on overall viability.
“Any additional constraints imposed by way of affordable requirements would simply worsen this position and so it is accepted that affordable housing cannot be provided.”
Just seven of the first floor apartments would have access to a terrace providing private outdoor space, the report added.
It said: “Unfortunately, the remaining units do not have any private amenity space, nor access to any shared external areas for amenity purposes.
“While this position is not ideal, it should be noted that policies do not strictly require private amenity space and it is not uncommon for such urban developments to have limited provision. It should also be noted that various publicly accessible open spaces are available nearby, including Etruria Park and Hanley Park.”
During the 19th century the site was home to the Shelton Brewery, which closed in 1933.
Redevelopment of will result in the clearance of all surviving brewery buildings on the site, the report said.