ipswich.gov.uk

The percentage of affordable housing is too high and unrealistic. It affects the viability of the Northern Fringe site (Ipswich Garden Suburb) and adds to the financial burden on first time buyers.

The existing Labour Administration has long been unreasonable in its demands for affordable housing. It has failed to realise that development is often put at risk by it's over the top demands for 35% affordable housing. The outcome is that either development does not take place at all or the Council backs down from its 35% figure as it has at the following sites:

* Colchester Road Fire Station
* Europa Way
* St Clement's Hospital
* "Wine Rack"

It is pleasing that there is an element of progress in the draft Strategy in that it moves from at least 35% affordable housing on sites of 15 or more dwellings and at least 20% on sites of 10 - 14 dwellings to at least 35% at the Ipswich Garden Suburb and at least 15% on sites of 15 or more dwellings in the rest of the Borough. This is a move in the right direction but, on the basis of recent experience, the 35% at the Garden Suburb is still unlikely to be viable, particularly as developers will also be faced with large infrastructure spending. In this connection, it is significant that Colchester Borough Council has adopted a policy of 20% affordable housing. The bottom line is that if the Council does not agree on a reasonable percentage of affordable housing, developments will not be viable and the very people for whom the Council wishes to provide housing will find that they remain on the Council's housing list.

The Council's percentage of affordable housing should not exceed 20%.