Affordable housing scheme removed from plans (From Bucks Free Press)

Affordable housing scheme for Gerrards Cross removed from plans

10:07am Thursday 12th July 2012 in Gerrards Cross By Andy Carswell

AFFORDABLE housing will not now be built at a new development in Gerrards Cross after an alternative scheme was approved.

Planning permission was originally given to build five affordable houses as part of a 15-home development off Fulmer Road by South Bucks District Council, but developer Millgate Homes asked to change the design.

They put forward new proposals to limit the number of houses to 12 - none of which would be part of an affordable housing scheme.

Millgate instead made an offer to make a financial contribution towards the cost of affordable housing elsewhere in the district.

The plans, which include alterations to the houses, were unanimously accepted by the council's planning committee yesterday.

The committee was told legal agreements surrounding the plans had been completed and were waiting to be signed.

Cllr Jennifer Woolveridge said: "This is a development that wouldn't suit affordable homes. It had a mix that was deemed to be very unsuitable and very unmanageable.

"This is a much better scheme - it fits all the requirements of a developer. We can get a great deal more out of it."

She added it would be "almost impossible" to ensure a housing association would take control of the operating of the affordable houses.

Building work at the site has already started.

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