Building projects raise concern over lack of affordable homes

Persimmon Homes is seeking planning permission to build 162 properties in Withernsea, while Peter Ward Homes has submitted an application to build 101 houses in Goole.

However, although the developments would be a boost to the construction industry and go some way to easing a housing shortage, only seven of the new properties, at Goole, will be classed as affordable.

Since 2007, planning guidance in the East Riding has required developments of 15 homes or more to contain 40 per cent of affordable housing. But because both schemes are revised versions of plans that were initially approved before this – in the Goole case dating back to 1976 – the guidance does not apply.

The scheme in Withernsea would be on open fields on land to the south of Carrs Meadow, close to the former Hull to Withernsea railway line.

It would be a mixture of bungalows and two-storey homes and include a large area of public open space, a children’s play area, garages, and parking.

The proposals have the backing of the town council but five letters of objection were submitted as well as a petition signed by 80 local residents.

One of the objectors doubted whether the scheme was viable and said more affordable housing was needed.

“Do not consider that Withernsea needs a further 162 homes in this economic climate; affordable housing would be preferable,” they wrote.

The Goole development would be at the northern edge of the town off Sundrew Avenue, and feature a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom detached, semi-detached houses and small corner terraces, some roofs being fitted with solar panels.

This scheme is facing wider opposition, with town council objecting “strongly” because of concerns about over-development and a lack of infrastructure and facilities.

Both Natural England and East Riding council’s trees and landscapes section have raised concerns about the potential loss of mature hedgerows in Thorntree Lane.

A total of 18 letters of objection have been written by residents, rasing concerns including increased traffic, loss of privacy for bungalow residents overlooked by the development, and the increased burden on schools and drainage.

East Riding Council’s transport section has requested funds from the developer to support a new bus service to the proposed estate, with a suggested figure of £50,000 over the first two years.

Both applications will be considered by East Riding Council’s planning committee next Thursday.

Reports on both schemes recommend they are deferred until some of the concerns have been addressed.

Affordable housing is designed to cater for households whose needs are not met by the market and can include social, rented and council accommodation.

There is a pressing need to create affordable property in the area, with about 9,500 people on the East Riding’s council house waiting list. Private house building rates have plummeted as a result of the recession.

The Government set the East Riding a target of building 1,200 new houses each year, and it had been comfortably exceeding this by up to 200 properties a year prior to the economic downturn. Since then between 300 and 500 new homes have been built each year.

To combat this East Riding Council embarked on its own house building programme and is close to completing construction on 330 council houses.

The authority has also been allocated further Government funding which should allow it to build about 150 more.