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Loophole open for developers

developers could get the upper hand in battles to build new estates, a council boss fears, after it was revealed a key housing target is being missed.

Michael Gibbard said developers could overturn Cherwell District Council decisions to reject estate plans because the authority is not getting enough homes built elsewhere.

The council has worked out that there are enough new homes to meet demand for nearly three years. The Government target is five years.

The council has backed a minimum 3,369 homes at 16 sites in Banbury and surrounding villages to provide affordable houses and curb prices.

But only 2,547 have been built, with no development at sites like Bankside, earmarked for 950 homes between Banbury and Bodicote.

Mr Gibbard fears developers could now convince the Planning Inspectorate, which handles appeals, to approve plans on other sites. He said: “That is the concern, that we will be penalised for that non-delivery (of homes).”

Comments(3)

xjohnx says...
9:18am Sun 12 Feb 12

'Penalised for non delivery of homes'?????????????

Well build more homes then, you tufties!" thats your job.

Darkforbid says...
12:55pm Sun 12 Feb 12

The best bet for affordable homes is not give the council any say at all.

John Lamb says...
12:57am Mon 13 Feb 12

People on the waiting list for houses in the Cherwell district may be interested to hear that people on the latest housing development in Yarnton are actually being rehoused in very scarce social housing (subsidised by the government at around 40% of the market rent value) even though they were in houses they had bought.
They are now in the fortunate position of living in an ultra-modern house with all repairs paid for and being able to rent out their old houses and pocket the cash.
Plus they can sell their houses and pocket that cash too.
All thanks to something called the Rural Exemption Scheme/Yarnton parish Council and the housing department at Cherwell Council.
With over 3000 on the housing list it does seem...er.....strang
e doesn't it?
Try and ask them why they're giving out social housing to those with their own houses and see if YOU can get an answer....I can't.

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