A BID to kick-start stalled developments in York by cutting the affordable housing targets has been criticised as “too little too late”.

City of York Council’s executive has agreed to reduce the number of homes for people on low incomes which must be included within housing projects.

The move, which will be brought into the authority’s Local Development Framework, means schemes on greenfield sites must include 35 per cent of affordable housing, with the figure for brownfield sites being 25 per cent. Previously, 50 per cent of projects with 15 or more houses had to be affordable homes.

But developer John Reeves, of York-based The Helmsley Group, said the move will make little difference in taking schemes off the drawing board.

He said: “While I’m glad somebody has listened to us to an extent, this is too little, too late and shows York is out of step on affordable housing viability studies.

“Other local authorities have set much lower and realistic targets to get schemes off the ground. We wanted to see a 15 per cent level for all sites, but all this will mean is continued stagnation in building and loss of jobs and wealth, which will be a disaster.

“If we want homes to be built in York for the vast majority and the employment and opportunities which come with a healthy economy, something has to give.

“Developers will deliver a realistic affordable percentage if they can make a profit on the remainder, and if they can’t, they won’t build.”

York quantity surveyor Paul Cordock said: “This is a big disappointment and very bad news for housebuilding in York.

“The proposed targets will continue to hold back development as the 50 per cent policy did and they do not provide the necessary stimulus.

There has been three years of consultation which has been a waste of time because the opinions of those involved in the delivery of housing have been repeatedly ignored.”

The council said the affordable housing figure could drop by another 3.5 per cent if developers show they need to make a 25 per cent profit on individual sites.

Following a motion submitted to a full meeting of the council by Coun Ian Gillies, lower targets may also be possible through individual negotiations on plans for specific sites.