Housing scheme faces rejection in clash over affordable homes clash

Developer McDermott Homes has applied for permission to build 47 houses and seven flats on the site of the former Soho Works at the junction of Allerton Road and Bull Royd Lane.

The site, which has been cleared of all mill buildings, is close to Manningham Ward Working Men's Club and, to the north, the grounds of Bradford Girls Grammar School.

For developments of this size, the developer would be expected to make financial contributions to the council to pay for future primary school provision and public open spaces, as well as provide affordable housing on site.

Council officers said the scheme would be acceptable in planning terms but only on condition that the developer met a "large percentage" of the contributions requested by the authority.

The developer has offered 79,500 towards primary education and around 25,000 towards public open space provision.

On the affordable housing front, the developer proposed to offer two housing units at a 35 per cent discount, which would work out at just less than four per cent of the total area which could be developed.

Bradford Council planners say that the scale of affordable housing being offered is "not adequate".

A report to be considered by the Area Planning Panel for Bradford tomorrow says the units offered for affordable housing "are not of sufficient size of quantity to satisfy" the council's requirements.

The report says: "The Windermere house type is a three-bed unit at only 75 square metres which is 10 square metres smaller than the minimum floor space normally requested."

Education officers have noted that primary and secondary schools are overscribed in the area and so a contribution is required for both levels of education.

"That said however the contribution offered is not insignificant," says the report.

It concludes that the plans should be refused, saying: "The proposal is of a type and scale that would normally require social contributions to be made due to the additional pressures placed on local infrastructure in relation to affordable housing, education infrastructure and recreation open space provision.

"The scale of contributions offered by the developer is considered to be inadequate and as a result would be contrary to policies....of the council's adopted Replacement Unitary Development Plan."

Meanwhile, in Leeds, councillors have welcomed news that work is to begin to transform a derelict site into new affordable housing.

Empty land at Eastleigh Drive in Tingley is to become the site of 20 two-bedroom flats and five two-bedroom bungalows thanks to Leeds City Council's innovative Affordable Housing Strategic Partnership.

Accent Foundation, working in conjunction with Leeds Council, Aire Valley Homes and the Homes and Communities Agency is beginning work on the 2.3m development.

The properties will be aimed at people aged over 55 who are under-occupying larger council homes, meaning family-sized council homes in the Tingley area will be freed up.

The site at Eastleigh Drive was included in the first phase of the Partnership's sites as part of Leeds City Council's commitment to increasing the city's affordable housing.

The work can go ahead after a grant of 1.3m was secured from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

As well as delivering 25 new affordable homes, Accent Foundation will also providing an improved green space as part of the scheme.