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18
Oct
Developer bids to make Knox Lane housing site fully affordable
A developer has bid to make a 53-home plan on Knox Lane in Harrogate fully affordable.
Teesside developer Jomast received planning permission to build the homes in the Bilton area in August last year.
A government planning inspector approved the plans on appeal, which subsequently led to taxpayers footing £180,000 in costs after North Yorkshire Council opted not to defend its decision.
The site off Knox Lane is expected to see a mixture of residential dwellings — both affordable and market — with associated parking and public open space.
However, in an application to North Yorkshire Council, the developer now wants to make the site 100% affordable housing.
‘Pressing need for affordable housing’
In a statement to the council, Jomast said that the Harrogate district was “significantly under delivering” on affordable housing.
It said:
There is clear evidence of a pressing need for affordable housing within Harrogate. The provision of 100% affordable housing on the site would represent a clear material public and planning benefit from the delivery of the scheme.
It added that the council’s own housing register showed that as of July this year, there were 1,687 households in Harrogate on the waiting list for affordable housing.
Knox Lane in Harrogate.
The council’s currently policy is that 40% of homes on a housing site should be classed as affordable.
However, Jomast argued that this figure was viewed as a “starting point”.
The developer added:
It is evident that there is an acute need for affordable housing within Harrogate. As such, the benefits of the delivery of additional affordable housing is considerable, which should be afforded significant weight in the planning balance.
The developer has a history of delivering affordable housing sites, including current proposals to build 106 homes in York in partnership with Together Housing.
But, the proposals in Harrogate have been met with opposition from residents who argue that the amendment to the plans goes against the council’s planning policies.
Catherine Sherwood, a local resident, said:
The council takes the stance that there should be a combination of general sale and affordable homes in order to result in mixed and balanced communities. This does not.
The fact that North Yorkshire Council has failed to deliver enough affordable homes across the whole county, should not mean that you can overlook your own stance to better reach a target. Exceptions should not be made on this site to compensate for an overall failing on the council's part.
Meanwhile, James Tuck, housing officer at North Yorkshire Council, initially objected to the proposals on the grounds of appropriate layout, mix and tenure of the homes planned.
However, on October 7, Mr Tuck said the council’s housing strategy team had met with a “registered provider” interested in taking on the affordable homes on the Knox Lane site.
Following the meeting, he said the council’s housing team was now supportive of the proposal.
Mr Tuck said:
We continue to feel that the mix of homes on the site, especially with it coming forward as 100% affordable is not ideal and, in particular, would not normally support the development of two-bed apartments for affordable/social rent.
However, we feel the overall benefits of securing 53 affordable homes in Harrogate outweigh these concerns. Therefore, we are now supportive of the proposal.
North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.
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