Heather Kidd, Shropshire Councillor for Chirbury and Worthen (and long time campaigner for affordable homes), has slammed the Governments proposal, this week, that builders will not have to include affordable homes in developments of less than 10 properties .
Heather said: “This is very poorly thought out and has ignored advice given by the Local Government association and a host of other experts.
“The problem is that in rural areas of England like Shropshire rural communities this measure will there will now be very few affordable homes contributions. Most sites are less than 10 and where the site is big enough the developer can easily opt for 9 avoiding the need to build any thing but 4 or 5 bed roomed luxury homes! ”
Heather, as Leader of South Shropshire District Council, pioneered its groundbreaking affordable homes policy that was widely copied throughout England and Wales and forms the basis of Shropshire’s current policy.
Heather continued: This will destroy the parish councils trust in the planning system yet again and will reduce the investment in rural affordable housing. which is already under stress and communities are again becoming less sustainable. Much of Shropshire is now building houses for people from London and the South East and do not fit local need. It will make the situation much worse.”
Minister
.”I have already strongly lobbied the Rural services network – rural lobbying group. and I will raise again with the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board. Last but not least I will contact the Housing minister to underline the depth of concern by many of us involved in housing in rural areas.