Darlington council ambition to build more affordable and council homes

Local authority leaders announced the Labour-Liberal Democrat administration’s “cast-iron intent” to deliver more council and affordable housing throughout the borough. 

The pledge came amid concerns about the number of available affordable homes for residents. 

Green Party leader Matthew Snedker told of a “worry among the public that we’re not hitting our affordable housing targets.”

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he warned how developers drop affordable housing requirements in exchange for financial contributions, “but what that means is that affordable homes aren’t built,” he said. 

Cllr Snedker added: “When the public sees developers not following through on that seemingly clear pledge there’s a question and we need to be clear and honest with the public about what the trajectory of affordable homes is and how strongly will we hold the line against developers who seek to pay off that requirement and the houses then don’t appear in communities where people are living and expecting them to be delivered.”

Planning guidance says at least 10 per cent of the housing provided in major new developments should be for affordable home ownership.

Councillor Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy, said: “Our recognition as a council of the housing challenges local people face in terms of affordable homes is right up there and that is why we have commented on our cast-iron intent to deliver more council and affordable housing.”

The full-scale plans for the housing development (Image: Hellens Group)

Cabinet members also agreed on plans to start a feasibility study into a planning application for more homes on a council-owned site at the Burtree Garden Village development in Faverdale. 

Planning permission for up to 750 homes in Phase One of the development was granted earlier this year and includes the strategic infrastructure and spine road which will provide the necessary access to open up the council-owned site. 

Named site Cell CH, it is intended to be brought forward as another potential Joint Venture development involving Esh Homes. 

However, a question from resident David Clark echoed Cllr Snedker’s concerns about the delivery of affordable housing. 

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He said: “All too often affordable housing is pledged at planning application stage then once approval is granted and building work starts the affordable housing allocation gets scrapped as what happened on the Neasham Road site.

“Can you guarantee if a large amount of council taxpayers’ money is released for another Joint Venture company that the public will see 20 per cent much-needed affordable housing?”

Cllr McEwan responded: “It is our absolute intent that we will deliver 20 per cent affordable housing on this site. That is our aspiration and what people will see going forward.”