Clash over 'social' homes project

Those who bought properties in the Circa Homes' Silentium development say they bought with the understanding that no further homes to be let by social landlords would be built on the estate.

The development went on the market in 2007 and homes were sold for in the region of 170,000 for a terraced property and up to 200,000 for a detached house.

However, Halifax-based Circa Homes has gone out of business, meaning the remainder of the Silentium estate in Lambrell Avenue, Norwood Crescent and Lambrell Green would never be completed.

Circa Homes's parent company, Southdale, has now teamed up with the Chevin Housing Association to complete the estate – but, instead of building more private houses, it intends to build eight homes for shared ownership and 14 new houses which would be available for affordable rent.

Following a public consultation session in May, and the planning application being advertised, 66 letters of objection and a petition signed by 59 people were submitted in opposition to the development.

Circa Homes residents have told Rotherham Council that the social housing will "devalue house prices in the area and create social problems".

Other opponents to the scheme say that the design and appearance of the proposed houses are not in keeping with the character of the existing homes, the proposal represents overdevelopment and there has been inadequate public consultation.

Wales Parish Council has also objected, on the basis of the application being for social housing and the potential increase in traffic.

However, three letters have also been submitted in support of the scheme, saying that Kiveton Park lacks affordable housing and young local people currently don't have the opportunity to get on the housing ladder.

In their application to Rotherham Council, a spokesman for Southdale said: "The huge economic crisis currently affecting our country has limited the completion of this residential housing estate and left several vacant sites.

"Our client, in partnership with Chevin Housing Association, has looked to purchase some of the available land in the hope of providing deliverable affordable housing to help finish this new housing development.

"It is hoped these plans will be approved so as to begin delivering much-needed affordable housing to a high quality this summer, greatly assisting the local area."

Rotherham Council's neighbourhood investment team, which is also supporting the development, said: "The intermediate homes for rent will help to bridge that gap between social rent and home ownership in this dispersed settlement, in helping residents to start on the housing ladder.

"Further good, quality affordable housing opportunities such as this are key."

Town planners at Rotherham Council are also expected to advise councillors that the application should be approved at a meeting tomorrow.

The officials say: "Planning legislation does not distinguish between affordable housing provided by a registered social landlord and open market housing.

"In terms of the objections received relating to Circa Homes owners being sold properties on the basis of no further affordable housing being constructed, this is not a planning matter.

"It is considered that the scheme will benefit the surrounding area by bringing a vacant brownfield site back into use in a sustainable location, along with providing much-needed affordable housing."