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Dec 2020

Last Updated: 22/12/2020

Environment

County council housing company accused of avoiding building affordable homes

by Thomas Barrett

| 17 Dec, 2020

North Yorkshire County Council's housing company, Brierley Homes, has recently been granted planning permission to build 19 homes in Bilton, Harrogate, and another 20 in Pateley Bridge. However, the council has been criticised for its approach to affordable homes.

North Yorkshire County Council has been accused of "getting out of" building affordable and social housing on two new housing developments in the Harrogate district.

The council's housing company, Brierley Homes, has recently been granted planning permission to build 19 homes in Bilton, Harrogate, and another 20 in Pateley Bridge.

As they are on brownfield sites, Harrogate Borough Council would normally ask for at least six affordable homes in each development, however, the Bilton development will have none and the Pateley scheme will have just four.

This is because Brierley Homes was able to use a Vacant Building Credit, which can be used to incentivise property developers to bring difficult sites back into use by removing the need to provide 30% affordable housing.

A Harrogate politician has suggested the local authority should be concentrating on providing more affordable homes in its developments, rather than speculating on the housing market.

Liberal Democrat county councillor Geoff Webber wrote to Brierley Homes chairman Karl Battersby to say he was "very disappointed" at both plans.

He called on NYCC to adopt a more "socially responsible" approach to housing in the future.

He said:

"I appreciate that the use of this device to get out of providing much-needed affordable and social housing is within the law but I would have thought, as a public body responsible for the well-being of our residents, that NYCC might have influenced this decision.

"It would be worth bearing in mind that whatever happens with local government re-organisation the new single tier authority will have responsibility for housing.

"I remain very disappointed and hope that in future Brierley Homes (and NYCC) will adopt a more socially responsible attitude."

County council to build 20 homes in Pateley Bridge

Bilton housing scheme criticised for lack of affordable homes

The homes in Pateley Bridge will be sold at the market rate which will mean a three-bedroom home could expect to fetch well over £300,000.

In an objection to the proposals, Pateley Bridge Town Council said the plans will come at the expense of "badly needed affordable and social housing for local people".

Harrogate Civic Society also spoke out against the plans in Bilton, which will replace a demolished council-run care home, calling the Vacant Building Credit a "dreaded thing" due to its effect on affordable homes.

Harrogate Borough Council says 208 affordable homes need to be built in the district every year. Council case officer Kate Broadbank expressed “disappointed” in the lack of affordable housing in the Woodfield scheme.

Brierley Homes was established in 2017 by North Yorkshire County Council. All profits are used to support frontline council services in the county.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, defended the company's business model in a statement released to the Stray Ferret:

He said:

“Brierley Homes’ focus is on developing high-quality housing with the primary aim of generating an income to reinvest in supporting frontline services provided by the county council. This is a socially responsible approach and is something buyers see as positive, too. I believe that our taxpayers expect the county council to use its assets wisely and responsibly, as in this case.

“In compliance with Harrogate Local Plan policy, the Pateley Bridge scheme will provide four affordable homes, which will be transferred to a local housing association upon completion. The business is further exploring the provision of rural affordable housing and is keen to progress this.

“Unitary status, whatever form it takes in North Yorkshire and York, will offer opportunities for housing, and Brierley Homes is well placed in this regard.

“Vacant buildings credit is an important tool in national planning for brownfield sites and given the focus of the business it is appropriate to take account of it.”

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County council housing company accused of avoiding building affordable homes

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