Nuneaton developers told 'stay out of town'

[dutchman]

Developers who are not prepared to consider poor and low paid people in Nuneaton and Bedworth have been told: ‘Stay out of town.’



Reliant Building Contractors want to build 84 houses on a former British Rail Goods Yard behind Jodrell Street and Midland Road in Nuneaton.

But their representative Mark Jackson told the borough council’s planning applications committee that it would not be 'financially viable’ for any of them to be 'affordable’ homes.

He also insisted that the developers would not be able to contribute anything towards open space and play facilities under a Section 106 agreement that is a normal part of the planning process.

But councillor Tony Lloyd, cabinet member for housing, who also sits on the planning committee, could hardly conceal his anger: “I am lost for words,” he said.

“If we let this through we will be in danger of becoming a soft touch for every developer in the country and my message to all of them is: If you cant afford to build here, don’t build - we won’t miss you Just don’t come to Nuneaton and Bedworth.”

Cllr Lloyd said the borough council has a policy that 25 per cent of all major development should be `affordable’ homes.

There is a drastic shortage of homes in the borough to be rented or for shared ownership by people who cannot afford to get onto the housing ladder.

The developers, who have 27 other sites throughout the country, also incurred the wrath of Cllr Don Navarro: “I don’t know how we can begin to entertain this application,” he said.

“If we accept this we will set a precedent, open the floodgates to everyone else and be seen as an easy touch.”

Cllr Navarro added: “If we allow that to happen then we will have failed the people of the borough.

“It goes against everything we believe in where social housing is concerned.

“This is a national company, they haven’t come here not to make money. They have come here tomake money and not to give anything to our borough.”

The borough council has already fallen foul of developers after failing to prove that it has met its housing targets for the next five years.

Members of the committee decided unanimously to turn down the outline planning application.