Bellway Homes’ application to build 47 homes at Maitland Lodge in Southend Road, Billericay, was approved at appeal in November 2022 with the promise that 21 properties would be affordable.
However, the developer has now applied to Basildon Council to drop that number down to just seven. It says the scheme is currently “unviable” as the housing market has “significantly weakened”.
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This has been compounded by the developer’s finance costs increasing and “unexpected site” issues which will lead to “significantly higher build costs”.
Altering the number of “affordable” homes is the last hurdle before work starts on the controversial scheme, which went to appeal initially in June 2022 after the council failed to determine it in time.
Billericay West Tory councillor Phil Turner has expressed disappointment at the move but noted that it is “not a surprise”.
He said: “We are under siege at the moment and this change in affordable housing is a ludicrous situation.
“Where the Government has brought in things like grey belt, developers are looking at what that means for them and it is not surprising that developments like this are back on the table.
“With the viability of affordable housing, the guidelines say around 50 per cent but in so many cases developers cannot afford that level of housing, particularly with the economy now as labour has gone up and material prices have gone up.
“So it does not surprise me but it disappoints and I do hope that the design that comes forward is superior to what they had before.”
Mr Turner believes that the best way forward to protect Billericay’s green belt is to try and mitigate the issues posed by developments by making opinions known.
He added: “We are trying to be a voice for residents and make our voice heard. There is little chance that we can stop this but we could work with them to get us a better deal, in terms of density, affordability and infrastructure.”
Bellway was contacted for comment.