More affordable housing is needed across Stratford district and developers should not be ducking out of delivering it, says councillor

Cllr Daren Pemberton (Con, Bidford East) criticised builders who used a viability assessment to claim they could not provide the suggested 35 per cent of affordable homes on their developments although he did confirm that all the figures were independently assessed.

Speaking at a Q&A session at Friday’s (October 28) overview and scrutiny committee, he told councillors: “We have to find an answer because your kids and grandkids have got to find somewhere to live and at the moment they are locked out of being able to buy and they are locked out of being able to rent because there aren’t enough rental properties.

"We aren’t providing enough stock.

“I think this notion of viability is a scam, it just is. You buy the land, do the numbers and then you know what you can build.

"You don’t rock up when you are about to get your planning permission and say ‘I can’t make any money on this’.

“Part of the problem is that the government, in its infinite wisdom, set this hare running with viability assessments.

"We are talking about green field sites by and large in a rural area so you know what’s around there so I have no time for them although I have to work in a framework which says you can have another bite of the cherry.”

Cllr David Curtis (Lib Dem, Shottery) added that the rising number of houses being used as AirBnB properties in and around Stratford was further reducing the housing stock.

Cllr Pemberton, who is also the portfolio holder for place and economy, said: “If members in the town are starting to get the feeling that AirBnB is getting to the point where it is having a detrimental effect then I would invite you as a caucus to meet and start to raise those issues.

“I give you my assurance that we will look at it because if it is not a problem now then I suspect it is going to be a problem.”