No, this is affordable (From York Press)
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No, this is affordable
11:01am Thursday 13th September 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter
I READ with great interest the debate going on in the pages of The Press about increasing the supply of new homes and new affordable homes. Yorkshire Housing is one of the largest providers of new affordable homes in Yorkshire, and in York.
In our experience new housing developments are, in the main, stalled due to the lack of buyers who have access to affordable mortgages and large deposits.
While in some exceptional cases, affordable housing requirements on some hard-to-develop sites could be reduced to make the development viable, this is necessary only in exceptional cases and City of York Council have taken this very pragmatic approach when necessary.
There are very strong lobby groups who see an opportunity to use the acute shortage of all types of homes to dismantle completely an approach which has secured umpteen hundreds of affordable homes for the people of York over the last 15 years.
The Government has recently considered removing the obligation to provide affordable housing from new developments but has rejected this approach. A similar approach should be adopted in York and an acceptance that affordable housing is an integral part of all modern new housing developments.
Ged Walsh, Director of New Business and Development, Yorkshire Housing, Briggate, Leeds.
Comments(15)
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
11:21am Thu 13 Sep 12
York Council's housing policy is a monumental failure. The number of new houses completed has now hit critically low levels, and it is a result of the Council's unworkable affordable housing policy targets. Ged Walsh and Yorkshire Housing are not private housebuilders and their view that mortgage inavailability has caused York's problem, is misinformed.
The 'lobby groups' as he puts it, are not opportunits, as Walsh alleges. The opponents of York's policy have been arguing against this system and York's policy since Coun Merrett first proposed the 50% target in November 2002. If York truly wants it's economy to grow through increased housebuilding, then it will have to give ground on this policy. The government will more than likely force their hand, because more needs to be done to stimulate housebuilding output, and removal of obstacles like affordable housing through S106 is the prime candidate.
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
11:24am Thu 13 Sep 12
meme
says...
11:55am Thu 13 Sep 12
His job relies on his business being funded by developers so he would say that wouldn't he?
As for hundreds of affordable homes being provisded by devlopers in york who are NOT publicly funded perhaps he would like to identify these as I cannot
The fact is burdens on devlopers of which affordable housing is the main one up the costs to the market buyer and make homes more unaffordable for the majority than they need be. Banks dont like funding devlopments with lots of affordable as they are concerned about the knock on effects on value.
Buyers dont want to buy next to affordale rented homes so devlopment does not stack up
If the money spent by Yorkshire Housing was his Mr Walsh would soon learn the harsh realities of making devlopments finacially viable and would change his tune
The harsh facts are the affordable burden actuially makes homes for the majority more unaffordable and reduces supply worsening the problem and the sooner CoYC and its politicians realise this the better
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
12:02pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Jezreel
says...
12:36pm Thu 13 Sep 12
"His job relies on his business being funded by developers so he would say that wouldn't he?"
So does that mean we can apply the same yardstick and disregard the developers and builders who post on this site without declaring an interest?
What do you think Matthew/ Capn.Spaulding/Mr Crabtree/Scarlet pimple ?
The Great Buda
says...
12:51pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Jezreel wrote:Quite clearly, we can.
Meme says
"His job relies on his business being funded by developers so he would say that wouldn't he?"
So does that mean we can apply the same yardstick and disregard the developers and builders who post on this site without declaring an interest?
What do you think Matthew/ Capn.Spaulding/Mr Crabtree/Scarlet pimple ?
PKH
says...
1:18pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Jezreel wrote:Well said
Meme says
"His job relies on his business being funded by developers so he would say that wouldn't he?"
So does that mean we can apply the same yardstick and disregard the developers and builders who post on this site without declaring an interest?
What do you think Matthew/ Capn.Spaulding/Mr Crabtree/Scarlet pimple ?
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
1:27pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Jezreel wrote:Developers don't rely on Housing Associations.
Meme says "His job relies on his business being funded by developers so he would say that wouldn't he?" So does that mean we can apply the same yardstick and disregard the developers and builders who post on this site without declaring an interest? What do you think Matthew/ Capn.Spaulding/Mr Crabtree/Scarlet pimple ?
So what if posters on here have an interest in development ? This makes them better qualified and informed to give an accurate account of how the system is flawed and a failure. Unlike the left wing supporters of this punitive, discriminatory system..... !!!!
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
1:48pm Thu 13 Sep 12
ors and council officers backed off with their greedy unworkable affordable housing demands, otherwise the housing drought in York will continue to expose their flawed, failing policies.
capt spaulding
says...
1:51pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Jezreel wrote:I think you are just using yet another opportunity to hit out at Matthew Laverack.
Meme says
"His job relies on his business being funded by developers so he would say that wouldn't he?"
So does that mean we can apply the same yardstick and disregard the developers and builders who post on this site without declaring an interest?
What do you think Matthew/ Capn.Spaulding/Mr Crabtree/Scarlet pimple ?
You still have not answered my previous question ?
What has Matthew Laverack done to you to attract your obvious loathing.???
Will.I.Aint
says...
2:03pm Thu 13 Sep 12
TheTruthHurts
says...
2:26pm Thu 13 Sep 12
capt spaulding wrote:Jilted Lover... Its got to be jilted lover!
Jezreel wrote:I think you are just using yet another opportunity to hit out at Matthew Laverack.
Meme says
"His job relies on his business being funded by developers so he would say that wouldn't he?"
So does that mean we can apply the same yardstick and disregard the developers and builders who post on this site without declaring an interest?
What do you think Matthew/ Capn.Spaulding/Mr Crabtree/Scarlet pimple ?
You still have not answered my previous question ?
What has Matthew Laverack done to you to attract your obvious loathing.???
Scarlet Pimpernel
says...
7:15pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Well my friend, you are in for a rude awakening, as it will not last much longer. Time for you to do some real work for a change... ? !!!!
meme
says...
4:06pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Without us most of the HA will cease to exist as they cannot function in a profit driven world. No wonder they want to turn over what in my view is an inevitable and long awaited decision to get rid of affordable
And yes I have an interest in delivering homes at a profit with all the employment and benefits that brings to me my workforce and yorks and I dont apologise for that
The Great Buda says...
11:04am Thu 13 Sep 12