Shropshire Star

New retirement homes plan for Shrewsbury boosted after talks

A development of 32 retirement flats could go ahead after a wrangle over the developers' affordable housing contribution was resolved.

Published
An artists impression of how the development could look

McCarthy & Stone has been seeking permission to build the apartments on land at 117/125 Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury.

However, at a planning committee meeting in August a decision was deferred over queries from councillors about the level of affordable housing contribution from McCarthy & Stone.

It had been set at £110,000, but has now been increased to £177,877, and the matter is recommended for approval at today's meeting of the Central Planning Committee.

The developer is providing an affordable housing contribution because there will be no actual affordable housing built as part of the development.

A report to be assessed by the committee members states that the inclusion of affordable housing could lead to tensions between open market customers and housing associations and tenants.

It states: "The applicant has provided justification as to why on-site provision of any amount of affordable housing would not be appropriate within this development and this was reported to members in the August committee report. The Housing Enabling team have considered the justification provided and they have confirmed that the appeal decisions submitted by McCarthy and Stone support their view that it is not appropriate to include affordable housing units within their developments citing potential tensions between their open market customers and registered providers and tenants, and also siting the physical and practical differences created by the schemes design and differing management regimes."

The report also outlines why officers are recommending the new affordable housing contribution as acceptable.

It states: "The submitted viability assessment, the enhanced offer of £177,877 and the justification for why this should not be used to provide one or two units of affordable housing on-site has been assessed by officers and the housing enabling team and it is agreed that the offer should be accepted. It is considered that in light of the evidence submitted, the refusal of this application, due to the applicant being unwilling to enter into an agreement to secure the full policy compliant on–site provision (or the full financial AHC of £515,000 in lieu of this) or their unwillingness to enter into a S106 agreement with an overage clause included would not be defensible at appeal."

Officers have also said the application will help to release other family homes to the market.

It states: "The proposal will boost housing supply in a sustainable location providing 32 purpose built retirement homes that will meet the needs of a growing ageing population and subsequently release the supply of family homes to the market.

"Although not providing affordable housing on site the development will provide a financial contribution of £177,877 towards affordable housing, an offer of almost £70,000 higher than when members considered this in August, and will also achieve a far higher CIL levy compared to the previously approved scheme for four houses."