LETTER: Affordable homes targets not met

Berkeley Homes has submitted an application to build 300 dwellings on an allocated site West of Horsham, of which only six are ‘affordable’. This amounts to a mere two per cent of the applied-for build.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Aug 2015, 18:00 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Your lettersYour letters
Your letters

Earlier this year an application by the same company to build up to 594 dwellings on farmland west of Southwater was approved even though it would provide 30 per cent, not the 40 per cent required by the Core Strategy; a 25 per cent shortfall against the plan requirement.

Meanwhile, Horsham District Council (HDC) has yet to announce how many of North Horsham’s ‘around’ 2,500 houses will be ‘affordable’. Although at the examination of the HDPF last November the Inspector was advised that the site would deliver 35 per cent, this commitment was subsequently rescinded post the examination.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the HDPF-Resumed Hearings, held this year on 3 July, an HDC officer advised that the number was subject to negotiation. Doubtless the developer is pressing for a number a long way south of 35 per cent.

As explained by Paul Kornycky (his letter WSCT 13 Aug 15), developers are empowered to do this by Government policies, which seek to reduce developer funding for the provision of affordable homes.

Clearly, there is an urgent need for alternative sources of finance that are not dependant on the sale of new private homes.

Unfortunately, as was made apparent by Mr Salter, the Planning Inspector tasked with examining the HDPF, the presumption for local plans is that affordable homes will be funded entirely by developers through the sale of new private homes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Consequently, housing targets are grossly inflated; and even though huge tracts of irreplaceable farmland are allocated for development the need for truly affordable homes, including rented accommodation, is not being met.

Dr ROGER F. SMITH

For the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) Sussex (Horsham District), Bashurst Copse, Itchingfield

__

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3 Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The County Times – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:North HorshamHorsham District Council