THE developers of the Curtis Fields housing scheme in Weymouth are seeking to reduce the number of affordable homes it provides.

Betterment Properties say the agreed 30per cent target for phases 2-4 of the scheme off the Chickerell Road is no longer affordable and needs to be cut back to a maximum of 26.24per cent to maintain its profit level.

The effect would be to reduce the number of ‘affordable’ homes from 140 to 122, made up of 84 for rent and 38 shared ownership.

Some local councillors and Weymouth Town Council are questioning the need for the change with a decision expected in the coming days.

The company says it has been hit by general rising costs and unforeseen extra expenses when it was discovered parts of the site were contaminated with asbestos and also needed more ground retaining works than originally believed.

Dorset Echo: Dorset Council’s area planning committee, meeting next Thursday,  is being asked to agree the lower level of affordable homes which is based on an independent viability report from the District Valuer.

Councillors will be told that, faced with the independent assessment report, the committee should agree the lower limit, delegating the power to make the changes to the head of planning, Mike Garrity.

Figures provided for the council show that the first phases of the development is now near to completion with more than half of the homes not yet started in phases 2-4.

Outline planning consent for around 500 homes was initially granted in 2014 with further, detailed, consents following in 2017, 2018 and 2019, together with some later modifications to the original plans.

The council has a legal contract with the developers, dating back to 2016, which agreed a minimum of 30per cent affordable homes together with more than £4.5million in financial contributions by the company for recreation, ecology and towards the costs of school provision in the area.

Westham ward councillor Gill Taylor said she believes the request should not be agreed: “Much development by this company across Weymouth and Portland has been done at a time of rising house prices and hence increased profits therefore it is not acceptable that viability is being used on this site to remove the affordable housing elements of this development. We have a dire need for affordable properties in Weymouth and the need for affordable housing far outweighs a company’s profits.”

Dorset Echo:

Neighbouring ward councillor Brian Heatley says the council should get its own viability report before making a decision: “Their case essentially is that various assumptions made in the original viability assessment have now changed, for example there turned out to be asbestos on site, building costs have increased and house prices are expected to decline. The detail of this is set out in a new and highly technical viability assessment. Is it right for a developer to seek to change the viability assessment after the planning permission has been given? The whole point of a private developer is that they take the risk of higher or lower profits.”

Similar comments have come from fellow Green Party Weymouth councillor Clare Sutton with Weymouth Town Council telling Dorset Council: “Betterment Homes should be held to their commitment to 30% (140 units). The approval of this site was on the basis of affordable homes being included. Weymouth has a shortage of affordable homes and can't afford to lose this promised commitment.”