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'We're a soft touch for developers': Councillor slams planning policies



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Published Date:
25 January 2008
DEVELOPERS are controlling house building in Calderdale because of poor planning policies, claims Coun Colin Raistrick.
The Hipperholme and Lightcliffe Independent councillor said developers targeted the district as an "easy touch".
"The Government have set a minimum target of over 650 new homes each year in Calderdale. In 2007/ 2008 the figure could reach 1,500", h
e said. "We are building twice what we need because we have no policy so developers can do as they please.
"Developers know Calderdale is an easy touch. The council is not instructing the planning department or it is not coming up with the right policies for the benefit of Calderdale.
"We need to tighten up policy so we can choose what kind of homes we want to be built. At the moment we are a treasure trove for developers."
Councillors are keen to increase the number of affordable homes for people on low incomes to rent and is looking to up its target from 15 per cent to 20 per cent on new developments.
But Coun Raistrick said the figure reached so far was 8.5 per cent, and said some developers had bypassed a commitment to affordable homes by keeping projects below 25 homes – the ruling is now being set at 15.
He said in York and Harrogate developers faced stringent affordable homes targets of 50 per cent so it was no surprise they were attracted to Calderdale.
Barry Collins, chairman of the council's regeneration and development scrutiny panel, said there was all-party support for better control in new planning documents being prepared, and the cabinet was being asked to prioritise family homes and affordable housing.
Over the last four years homes have been built at twice the rate required and latest figures revealed 4,000 empty homes in Calderdale.



The full article contains 309 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 25 January 2008 2:47 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Halifax
 
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1

motherhen,

halifax 26/01/2008 12:22:13
Its about time development was stopped completely. Why do we need more unwanted properties been built ? Prices are too high for local people to purchase and the get out clause for affordable houses must be making the developers rub their hands in glee. But if they arent selling them whats the point in building them ? It seems that the minimum target for new built homes have been met and whats the point of having 4000 empty homes in Calderdale ? Or is it so the vandals have somewhere to practice ? Come on councillors be brave and say NO
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Toddy,

Todmorden 26/01/2008 13:51:36
Well, I'm Gob-smacked!! A Calderdale councillor actually going around the area with his eyes wide open!! Wonders will never cease!!

As you can probably tell I live up in Todmorden, where as I jokingly said to someone, "Don't drop your hanky! It will show someone there's enough space for a housing development."

It wasn't really funny at the time but at the moment all of the town's spare land is being swallowed up by housing developments, all of which are priced way beyond the means of anyone managing to live and work in the town.

I don't know if it is the same in the rest of Calderdale, but apparently the property is being built on a speculative basis for when the BBC moves North to Manchester. What's going to happen if the BBC don't move or people decide Calderdale to Salford Quays is too far to travel each day?

I also wonder, though I can imagine what the answer is, with all this new building going on has any thought been given to the infrastructure to support it? Will the drains cope or will we get yet more flooding? Are a roads and car-parks capable of handling all the extra traffic?
3

,

26/01/2008 18:34:08
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
4

Halifax Local,

27/01/2008 23:29:58


There is 2 ways of looking at this... if theres less houses in Calderdale the Prives well go up -- More houses then the compition is higher which does result in house prices staying @ a average level..

5

Barry,

28/01/2008 08:04:26
yes, but also more empty properties resulting in more vandalism, theft and arson; which make an area less desireable so you'll end up living in a slum. All the houses will be very cheap then
6

Miranda,

Halifax 28/01/2008 08:29:54
I agree totally with you Darren. The article does says developers have to build property to rent to those on low incomes. Like you say, who the heck wants to buy a fancy house/apartment in a complex with 20% of it going to scratters?
In the real world you don’t get a street – sorry avenue of nice big houses with half a dozen or so squidgy 2 up 2 down properties scattered nicely amongst them do you?
An awful lot of the empty housing is terraced ie small, and not always in dodgy areas, so why can’t the council give incentives to developers to do them up rather than build more new properties?
Besides, Halifax is an industrial town and so much of the new build stuff looks really out of character with it’s surroundings.
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DAN3,

Halifax 01/02/2008 18:39:10
I saw some time back a councillor reported as saying the "back garden building has to stop". So much of the character of Calderdale is being ruined by builders getting planning permission to build two or three houses in a back garden. Th owner gets a new house for free and the builder makes a handsome profit whilst avoiding much of the building redtape. To make matters worse the Planning Dept, have to be badgered into ensuring that conditions set as a requirement for planning consent are adhered to. A soft touch indeed.
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