These numbers dont add up

In 2003/4, for example, 70% of new affordable homes completed – 122 homes – came through this route, compared with just 37% in 1998/9. But where the York experience differs from the conclusions of the article is that the affordable homes secured through section 106 have been delivered without the use of social housing grant. Since 1996, more than 700 affordable homes have been negotiated with private developers.

Approximately 75% have been for rent and 25% for shared ownership/discounted sale.

The assertion that the “cost to the public purse of section 106 affordable housing is now very similar to that for more traditional housing sites” deserves a critical scrutiny rather than the unquestioning acceptance of the researchers.

It would have been interesting to see why some councils, including York, have been able to secure affordable homes on private developments without any such use of the public purse. It begs the question of why other local authorities aren’t doing the same.

There may be occasions when the use of social housing grant is justified on private developments but the assumption that it is always needed to make schemes viable is fundamentally flawed. Planning obligations, including affordable housing, should be reflected in reduced land value.

The planning system may be far from perfect but it is certainly robust enough to deliver affordable housing without the need to subsidise private developers through the widespread and, it seems, habitual use of social housing grant.

Paul Stamp, planning and policy manager York council