Leighton-Linslade Town Council is urging developers to provide affordable housing – even in retirement flats.
Developers McCarthy & Stone are pushing forward with plans to build “later-life” apartments in the heart of the town in North Street.
The scheme has yet to go to Central Beds Council but the town council saw its details recently and were dismayed that the project doesn’t seem to honour national guidelines about including a percentage of low cost housing.
After the town council’s planning committee, Labour councillor Mike Bishop told the LBO: “The news that a major town centre housing development in Leighton would not include any affordable housing raised questions in the minds of town councillors.
“Revised plans presented by the developers of a retirement complex proposed for the corner of West Street and North Street were accompanied by a document arguing that they should be exempt from providing affordable housing as part of the development.
“I could see their difficulties with this particular site. As an alternative they can be required to contribute to the cost of providing affordable housing elsewhere in the area. The developer is talking about a contribution to the cost of building anywhere between 20% and 35% of the units on the site. Central Bedfordshire usually require 30%.”