Go-ahead likely for association homes
Tuesday 17th November 2009, 8:39AM GMT.
Plans to build 10 affordable homes in a village near Shrewsbury look set to be approved despite strong opposition from residents.
Shropshire Rural Housing Association wants to build six two-bedroomed homes and a further four three-bedroomed affordable homes off Church Road in Uffington.
The scheme is designed to provide a boost to young families and other people who are struggling to buy their first home.
But villagers have objected to the scheme and another similar proposal for 10 affordable homes, with a public meeting attracting more than 60 people who voted almost unanimously against the plans.
The other scheme, which was submitted by Wrekin Housing Trust, has not yet come before the planning authority.
Members of Shropshire Council’s Area Regulatory Committee for the central division discussed the Shropshire Rural Housing Association plans last week but decided to delegate approval to the central area manager.
Conditions
Council officers say the scheme should only be approved subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 planning agreements to ensure a financial contribution is made to provide public open space in the area.
The housing development would also include the creation of new vehicular and pedestrian accesses if approved.
A report to councillors says: “The layout of the scheme has been amended and now consists of five pairs of semi-detached dwellings with a new vehicular and pedestrian access off Church Road leading to a rear parking area and turning head.”
Uffington Parish Council objected to the scheme for a number of reasons including concerns about the suitability of the location, the capacity of the drains to cope with extra users, traffic issues and the number of homes in the village.
Three letters of support were lodged by local residents, but a further 25 letters of objection were also submitted raising a number of concerns, with some claiming they were told no more homes would be built in the village.
By Russell Roberts
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“The scheme is designed to provide a boost to young families and other people who are struggling to buy their first home.”
No its not!
The scheme is designed to boost the coffers of the Shropshire Rural Housing Association and they determined that the easiest way to get planning approval and make the most money would be to build in the cheapest possible way, use the cheapest materials and labour they can find, make the rooms as small as legally possible and then call it ‘affordable housing’.
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Marco not really true that is it Marco,materials, labour,room size all exactly the same that would be used on starter,affordable homes uk wide by all companies.
Fact are all of us who live in villages, hamlets always object to new homes etc. People need some where to live children of people who lived in the village before the interlopers came slithering in need some where to live why should they live in towns etc??. If it was 6 luxury homes you would probably have 1 objection . People may as well get used to it moan about the size of a development not the fact they are affordble homes. I do hate this attitude of some who think they are the upper class which none are not, or even worse the deluded middle class who dream yes they are the dreamers.
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resident’s objections are NIMBYism pure and simple, and Andrew Finch is almost certainyl right in that their objections are based on misguided notions of class. All villages need injections of fresh blood and younger people with children to keep the facities in the villages open. Probably the objectors would also be the first to complain about lack of facilties in the village when they close due to lack of demand.
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I also forgot to add that the Housing association is a not-for profit organisation and properties tend to be on the small side in order to keep costs down, and therefore the rents that tenants have to pay to a minimum.
With something like 2 million on hosuing waiting lists nationally, its criminal that a small number of objectors can thwart young people getting a home of their own. Shame on you!
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here here richard, I was going to point out to maroc that associations are not for profit but i thought i would leave him ignorant. People such as maroc clearly have not done his home work on the issue he seems to objects to what does he base his facts on ???? what experiance has he in the building trade ???, what esperiance of H associations?? And infact is he an interloper??to the area??
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Good. We need more, its that simple.
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Housing associations have a higher expections of sustainability and energy efficency.
Two years ago on heritage W/E in September I visited a housing association development in Craven Arms. The tenant who kindly allowed us around his home said that it had exceeded their expectations and though radiators had been fitted they had never had to put them on such was the quality of design and insulation.
The houses were not some sort of pseudo period style either which was wonderful.
I have reservations about houses only being for locals as people have always moved around for employment and there would hardly be a soul in Shropshire if you looked for those living here a couple of centuries ago.
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Eve, in the villages we have many people especialy the children who wish to remain in the village in another few years we will have many aged around25 still living with parents they need affordable homes to buy or rent yes some move for work but many commute to the nearest town in most cases . What we cant have is villages full of coffin dodgers who block and hinder progress for the genuine locals and just make what will go through awkward and time consuming.
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Interfering with the natural moving around that people have always done in order to find work can encourage parochialism. I agree that the housing should be aimed at the younger age gruop who have less affordability and help to keep communities vibrant but “genuine locals” has a meaningless and unpleasant ring to it.
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it is a beautiful place ,with an excellent location .the stretch of road where the construction is planned is NATIONAL SPEED LIMIT. having had 2 cats run over i hope that the 30 mph limit in the village itself will be extended all the way to the newport rd before a child is buried .so build the houses and get the traffic to slow down . just build them well and attractively .
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I have lived in 4 villages in a 10 mile radius and have done for 40 odd years people do not move away as much as you clearly seem to think.
Priority to local people is not unplesant if we have people local to the area wanting a property why give them to people away from the area?? and ignore the local need?? .Your argument sounds very pc which clearly has been the down fall of this country .
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Affordable housing is a Bunse (nice little earner = Bunsen burner) for whoever buys the house from new. He/she can then sell it very quickly at its actual market value and pocket a huge profit. Let the market dictate house prices.
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