A COUNCIL leader has pledged to provide “Basildon homes for Basildon people” by increasing the number of affordable homes built in the borough.

Basildon Council has published new guidelines which will dictate the contributions developers should make when building new estates.

It wants 36 per cent of new homes to be affordable due to the high level of demand.

Nationally, developers are often allowed to reduce affordable housing commitments as an incentive to ensure building projects go ahead, but council leader Phil Turner believes the 36 per cent target is achievable.

He said: “I think it is realistic and the mantra we are taking forward is Basildon homes for Basildon people.

“Affordable homes need to be provided first and we need to make sure we are meeting that need for the local community.

“This 36 per cent figure gives the opportunity to meet it.

“With all the other things, like downsizing and changing the allocation policy, we are being realistic about that.”

The council’s previous policy aimed to ensure between 15 to 30 per cent of housing developments were made up of affordable housing, but last week the council approved an affordable housing quota of only 10 per cent for the 725-property Dry Street development.

Mr Turner claims the affordable quota for Dry Street was lowered to ensure green space will be protected on the new estate. He said: “You can’t tell developers you want green space maintained, then hit them with the provision of affordable housing, so there has to be a trade-off.”

According to a 2013 survey of housing need in south Essex, the borough will need to build about 300 new affordable homes each year to meet demand.

Despite Mr Turner’s hopes, the council’s policy document says the targets will still have to show “flexibility”.

It read: “Given the variable economic climate, it is not always going to be possible for the council to secure the full affordable housing contribution set by its policy.

“Therefore the council will build more flexibility into its policy requirements in the future, specifically on the grounds of viability.”

Opposition Labour leader, Gavin Callaghan, says people are paying too high a price to live in Basildon.

He said: “Developers are massively overinflating prices in Basildon. People are having to pay London prices, which is unsustainable when commuters are having to pay expensive rail season ticket prices.

“We have to think whether we can go back to 100 per cent mortgages and if the council can become a mortgage lender.

“I think the council’s hands are tied in a sense as developers rule the roost, but we believe 50 per cent of every development should be social housing.

“If you look at proposed developments like Dry Street and Ballards Walk, they are going to be a long way from that.”

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