Affordable housing must be a priority, firms told
SMALLER-SCALE HOUSING developers have been told the pressing need to produce affordable housing outweighs their ability to produce properties that are bespoke for communities.
The warning came after developers accused a North Yorkshire council which has adopted a 40 per cent affordable housing target on developments of creating a favourable climate for national rather than local housebuilding firms. Many authorities in the region have set the target at about 40 per cent in a drive to meet the Government’s ambition of providing 50,000 affordable homes each year in England.
The friction between smallerscale developers and councils came into focus as Hambleton District Council’s planning committee rejected a scheme to build 17 properties in Northallerton.
Councillors across the county say the need for more affordable housing is one of the area’s most pressing issues, with average house prices in districts having been found to be between 7.6 and 11.2 times the average salary.
The lack of affordable housing has led to concerns that local people are being forced to move elsewhere.
Members heard council officers had been unable to reach an agreement with Yorvik Homes on the number of properties on a Stokesley Road development that should be provided to people whose needs are not met by the housing market.
A report to the planning committee said Yorvik Homes had stated it could not meet the council’s 40 per cent affordable housing target due to a £171,000 “abnormal construction cost” on the site. Mark Harbottle, the authority’s head of planning and housing, said developers should accept lower profits for affordable housing because the financial risks were much lower than for building housing for the open market.