Developer freed of affordable housing commitment

Councillors felt they had no option but to approve a request for an amendment to a 20-home scheme

A developer's request to remove its obligation to include affordable homes in its scheme has been reluctantly agreed by a council.

Rother District Council approved agent Parker Dann's application on behalf of Brookworth Homes to amend permission for a 20-residence project in Battle, East Sussex, which included cheaper properties, as it felt it would lose on appeal if it refused.

At a meeting on Thursday, councillor Kathryn Field called on the council to urge the government to change a scheme which she said enabled developers to "profit at the expense of our residents".

Parker Dann has been approached for comment.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Ms Field said: "This happens time and time and time again. What I am is absolutely appalled that it has got this far.

"We see developers do this. They have outline consents, promise the earth and then... they cannot deliver, they say, what they have promised."

She added: "I would hope this council would write to central government and lobby in the strongest terms for changes to this ridiculous scheme, whereby we are guaranteeing private developers the right to make a profit at the expense of our residents."

Other councillors shared similar views and asked officers what options they had.

Officers said the application, to build on land north of North Trade Road, was made on grounds of financial viability.

Councillors were advised that if they refused the change their decision would probably be overturned on appeal and the council could then be forced to pay costs.

The authority's head of planning, Mike Hughes, said: "None of us like this situation.

"We all know how important affordable housing is... we don't design the planning system, but we do have to operate within it."

The claims about financial viability had been independently assessed he said.

While officials did not agree with all the figures, Mr Hughes said they did not think the scheme was viable.

Councillor John Barnes said: "We would certainly lose on appeal. So I must say, I move with great reluctance - approval."