Posh homes plan sparks row

From the The Bolton News, first published Sunday 26th Aug 2007.

A DEVELOPER'S plans to build a plush housing estate with 30 executive homes have sparked a debate about affordable housing.

Jones Homes has been granted planning permission for 54 semi detached homes at The Meadows, near Middlebrook in Horwich.

But the company now wants to reduce the number and increase the size of the houses.

The move has sparked concern among councillors who say there is a lack of affordable housing in the area.

Cllr Peter Baxendale said: "Affordable housing is not mentioned in these plans - it's just not there."

Cllr Bob Ronson added: "The problem is companies apply to build small houses and when they have the approval, they put in a new application to change it. This is happening regularly and it is not on. I am going to vote against this proposal."

A report in July revealed thousands of couples and families across Bolton are being priced out of the market.

The Housing Market and Needs Survey, compiled for Bolton Council by leading housing consultants David Couttie Associates, warned that almost three-quarters of those looking for a house could not afford to buy one.

Land Registry figures show the average price of a home in Bolton is now £140,452. And the cost of an average two-up, two-down terrace house rocketed by 180 per cent between 2001 and 2006 to £100,990.

Not everybody was against the plans - Cllr Kieran McGeehan was in favour. He said: "There is a traffic problem in this area so reducing the houses will mean there are 20 less cars."

Graham Bee, senior planner with the Emerson Group, said on behalf of the applicant: "The layout complements and integrates well with the existing Meadows development, as built, and takes into account the approval on the neighbouring Chortex Mills site by linking the road network."

The vote was split with seven councillors voting in favour, four against, and one abstension. The decision will be delegated to a planning officer.

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