Milton Keynes council has hit out at the government’s affordable
housing policy in a letter to planning minister Nick Boles.
Developers are
allowed to appeal the level of affordable housing in new schemes and frequently
negotiation for less than the 30% affordable housing level required by local
policies.
The deputy leader of the council, David Hopkins, who is the portfolio
holder for planning and economic development, said: "We are trying to
build a city that is sustainable and we are not being allowed to," said
David Hopkins, deputy leader of the council. "They are setting up problems
not today or next year but in five years time, and there will be a shortage of
affordable housing. That will lead to problems in the service sector and public
sector because people won't be able to afford to live in Milton Keynes."
Nick Boles told the Guardian that planning
deals negotiated during the last housing boom are "economically unrealistic,
meaning no development, no regeneration and no community benefits". In a reply to David Hopkins, Boles refused an offer to meet and said:
"We have been clear that the only grounds to reconsider previously
agreed affordable housing contributions are economic viability and this
needs to be evidenced and demonstrated for review.”
See also Milton Keynes Web.
No comments:
Post a Comment