Developer wins appeal against making contribution to affordable housing

A retirement housing developer has won an appeal over whether it should have to contribute to affordable housing as a planning condition.

Churchill Retirement Living gained planning permission from North Dorset District Council last year to build 35 sheltered flats on the site of a former hotel in Gillingham, on the basis that it would contribute £508,200 towards affordable homes to be built elsewhere in the area.

It appealed against the planning condition, arguing that the recession meant the development was no longer viable with the contribution.

The inspector allowed the appeal, concluding that the council could not demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, and that there was a local shortage of 192 homes and a limited stock of owner/occupied sheltered housing.

Churchill chairman Spencer McCarthy said, “Our planning consultants, Planning Issues, were successful in convincing the inspector that a financial contribution towards off-site affordable housing was not justified.”

McCarthy called on North Dorset to review the way its officers and consultants handled this appeal “as they have been comprehensively defeated on all the points”.

He added: “My experience of this council is that they have gone out of their way to delay the development. I hope in the future that the council will act more responsibly and not try to frustrate much needed new housing development.”

A North Dorset spokesman said: “We considered further legal action but have decided against it because we are small district and do not have the money, any High Court case would cost tens of thousands of pounds.

“There is a large demand for affordable housing as this is an area with high housing costs but low wages.”