News More affordable housing for town
Local housing developers were told last week that any planning applications validated by the end of November would be treated under less demanding rules than those included in new policies being put in place by the Government to increase the amount of affordable housing across the county.
The move came following a decision from a meeting of East Riding of Yorkshire Council's (ERYC) Cabinet, held in Beverley last Tuesday, October 16, when members were asked to approve an 'interim' approach on affordable housing.
This was an urgent requirement, and spells more affordable housing for the Goole, Howden and Snaith areas, because the Government has decided that the existing Local Plan policies in three of the East Riding's districts - Boothferry, East Yorkshire and Holderness - cannot be saved.
The suggested amount of affordable housing to be specified when deciding planning applications may vary in different areas but the Council will seek to achieve an overall 40 per cent proportion in the East Riding, in line with the Government's expectation.
Recognising that the new requirements are a matter of concern for developers, a meeting was held between Council officials and local housing developers on Friday, October 19, when it was announced that any planning applications that are validated by the end of November and determined by the end of February, 2008 will be treated by the Council under the old, and less demanding, rules so far as affordable housing is concerned.
"The Council recognises that this is a difficult and sensitive issue but we have received a clear indication from Government that the current policies do not provide for sufficient affordable housing and must be replaced," said Cllr Jane Evison, ERYC cabinet portfolio holder for housing.
"On the one hand, many people are priced out of the East Riding housing market and there is evidence from our own housing needs survey of a demand for more affordable housing, especially from young people.
"While the additional requirements may be of concern to developers, especially in parts of the East Riding with less buoyant housing markets, these concerns can be addressed by a financial viability test."
Published on 25th October 2007 in News.
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