A housebuilder wants to remove affordable homes from its South Cumbrian estate because it would be financially unviable.
L&W Wilson (Higham) Ltd was given outline go-ahead to build the 40-home estate in Allithwaite, near Grange-over-Sands last year.
Twelve of the properties, to be built on a 1.65 hectare site at Barn Hey, off Flookburgh Road, were earmarked to be affordable homes.
But now, the developer has submitted a new application to remove the affordable homes provision.
It said: “Since the granting of the outline planning permission, the applicant has encountered significant and unforeseen site abnormals that have materially impacted the financial viability of the development.
“These unexpected costs, coupled with extended interest costs, render the originally proposed provision of affordable housing units financially unviable.
“It is imperative that the consented development is economically viable to ensure its deliverability.
“Imposing unachievable financial burdens through the Section 106 agreement will only serve to delay or potentially prevent the much-needed housing from being brought forward on this allocated site.”
One objector to the removal of the requirement to provide affordable homes said Allithwaite was in desperate need of social and affordable housing.
They said: “Young people find it difficult to find rental accommodation and to get onto the housing ladder. This results in young people leaving the village, to the detriment of our community, or to being obliged to remain with parents for longer than is good for either generation.
“A thriving community needs good quality social and affordable housing; this promotes better health, both physical and mental, allows people to put down roots and contribute to the local economy and community.”
The application is undergoing public consultation.
