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'We're a soft touch for developers': Councillor slams planning policies
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", he 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.
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