One of the country’s biggest social housing providers is seeking permission to deliver a “100 per cent affordable” development in Westfield, between Rye and Hastings. In an application which was validated by Rother District Council (RDC) last week, Southern Housing is seeking permission to vary the conditions attached to the 39-home Westfield Down development on land to the south of the A28.
Last year Westfield Parish Council said it did not support the 100% affordable housing idea. As Rye News reported at the time the council’s preference was for the originally approved split of 60% open market and 40% affordable homes.
Southern Housing, which had not been the scheme’s original applicant, have since taken over the site and are seeking permission to make all 39 homes affordable by changing conditions.
RDC has already approved similar proposals, agreeing for 23 of the homes to be classed as affordable rent (AR) properties with the remaining 16 to be classed as shared ownership (SO) units. The current scheme seeks to amend this split by increasing the number of affordable rent units to 25 and decreasing the number of shared ownership units to 14.
In a statement submitted as part of the application, a spokesman for Southern Housing said: “The latest evidence identifies a significant need for new affordable housing across the district. Recent figures indicate that current supply is falling below annual delivery requirements. The issue is of particular concern in rural areas, such as Westfield. There are currently 34 households on the housing register with a local connection to Westfield.
In order to address this shortfall, local planning policies and guidance make provision for 100% affordable schemes. They also identify a particular requirement for AR whilst recognising the need to create balanced communities. The amendments will allow Southern Housing to deliver the scheme as 100 per cent affordable housing. The proposed mix includes AR and SO homes which responds to local need whilst meeting the requirement to create a balanced community.”
In last week’s Rye News we reported on plans for 130 affordable homes approved for land at Blackfriars in Battle. Neither of the two large housing developments planned in Rye – on Ferry Road and Winchelsea Road – currently have provision for any affordable housing.
Image Credits: Southern Housing , Nick Forman .