‘Cliff edge’ warning as social housing target set to be cut

REPRESENTATIVES of some of North Yorkshire’s most economically challenged communities have accused the Tory-led county council of putting developers’ profits before the needs of residents.

Members told a full meeting of the council that affordable housing could fall off a cliff edge.

Ahead of councillors putting forward proposed minimum affordable housing ambitions of five, 10 and 20 per cent for developments in different areas of Selby, one member issued a £1,000 challenge that no developer would exceed the minimum.

Independent councillor John McCartney, who represents the Osgoldcross area near the former Kellingley coal mine, highlighted how proposed revisions to the Selby Local Plan meant a proposed 109-home estate would feature just eight social housing units and a “pathetic” three starter homes.

Coun McCartney told the Conservative-led administration: “You used to be the party of home ownership. Well, you’re not now.”

The meeting was told the county was facing a housing crisis and that more social housing for rent and starter homes for young people to buy were desperately needed.

The council was also accused of allowing developers to dictate how many affordable houses would be delivered.

Scarborough councillor Tony Randerson said developers were being “given the green light to print money while failing to deliver the required number of social and affordable homes”.

He said that in the Scarborough borough alone there were “at least 2,000 people without a permanent roof over their heads”.

“This, in my view, colleagues, is the start of the erosion of targets across North Yorkshire,” he added.

In response, open to business executive member Councillor Derek Bastiman said the affordable housing requirements in the emerging Selby Local Plan remained the same as those put forward by Selby Council in 2022.

He said the 40 per cent affordable housing target in the existing Local Plan was “no longer supported by the evidence”.

Coun Bastiman said the new minimum affordable housing figures were based on an independent viability study and evidence pointed to them being a good balance after changes in the economic climate.

The meeting heard the authority was working as hard as it could to provide as many affordable homes as it could across the county.

Coun Bastiman added: “Without a plan being in place, all we’ll get is housing being delivered by spec builders without the correct supportive services and infrastructure.”

However, the meeting also heard that the economic circumstances on which the targets were about to be set may change, resulting in housebuilding firms’ bosses getting “eye-watering bonuses” and a deepening housing crisis until the adoption of a countywide Local Plan.

Kellington parish councillor Mary McCartney said the proposed five to ten per cent targets for affordable housing were “ridiculous”.