Affordable homes plan defended

One of the backers of a controversial greenfield development of 44 affordable homes in a Herefordshire town has defended the plans.

Platform Housing, which says it is the largest housing association in the Midlands, is working with builder EG Carter & Co on the proposed scheme, off Middleton Avenue, Ross-on-Wye.

All of the proposed one and two-storey houses in the scheme would be for either rental or part-ownership.

“We believe the plans put in place really do work best for all concerned,” a Platform Housing spokesperson said.

“The types of tenure reflect a great opportunity to help people get a quality home in an affordable way.

“In the face of well-publicised affordable housing shortages both locally and nationally, we always look to work closely with local authorities when it comes to making these kinds of decisions, and to give customers the best chance to get on the housing ladder in the area they know and love.”

Herefordshire Council gave the proposed forms of tenure as among its reasons for refusing the original planning application, due to being against housing policy, though its strategic housing officer supported the bid.

Its decision was overturned on appeal in July, with the planning inspector giving “significant weight” to the affordable homes it would bring.

Local Conservative MP Jesse Norman has since backed a local action group opposed to the granting of permission on a number of grounds.

However affordable housing is a political priority nationally, with the government last month announcing £8.6 billion of funding to build nearly 120,000 such homes across England.