Two affordable homes in Craneigh is better than non we must admit, but could there be many more just around the corner soon!
Because the Government is now beginning to stamp on developers who are hoarding land…including the Berkeley Bunnies!
Berkeley Homes was given the go-ahead by a Government Inspector almost two years ago to build 425 homes on parkland in the east of the borough, over 40% would be ‘affordable.’ How many have been built Non! Detailed planning permission was granted at yet another appeal for 55 executive homes, with access of Knowle Lane a month ago.! Let’s hope they keep growing lettuces long enough to feed the Berkeley Bunnies. Because a Government inspector has approved its appeal for burrowing to begin!
Non of the affordable homes, which are separated from the executive homes, have seen the light of day, or a brick laid, although to be fair, the planners have received a detailed application for 18 homes, some of which are, ‘affordable’ accessed off Alfold Road.
The White Paper – which is expected to be published on Tuesday – is anticipated to include new proposals to require developers to complete homes more quickly.
Currently builders lose planning permissions after three years unless work has started. However, they can maintain planning permissions on sites simply by “digging a trench”, sources said. This means that more than 700,000 homes which have been granted planning permission since 2006 are yet to be built.
Under the new plans permission would be linked to the completion of homes by certain dates, rather than the starting of work.
Developers could have to build quotas of homes by set deadlines as a condition of receiving the planning permission, or be let off paying for new local roads, bridges and community halls – so called Section 106 agreements – if they complete the new homes more quickly.
Oops here go all those 106 Legal Agreements?
We can hear Dear Denise wailing from over here in the Farnham hop fields.
WW – I HAVE been telling you this for ages….It doesn’t matter if it is the Big developers or the teeny ones. S106’s are not worth the paper they are written on. Until we have something that does make developers do what they say they will then we have NO CONTROL
We hate to admit it but you are probably right and we are WRONG! But what the hell do we all believe in?
Very Little… I would like to think that Local People would have more of a say or want to – but yet again I am living in LA LA land….or planet Zog.
Why do I bother? Because I thought it meant something – Now I know how little influence we have.
I am not going into Purdah – But sitting in the dark – Like the Webbers – Until I see what happens next!