Anger over allocation of new homes near Uckfield
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Wealden District Council’s rules for allocating “affordable” housing have been strongly criticised.
They have been called misguided social engineering; inappropriate in a rural environment.
Anger has boiled up over the allocation of two-bedroom flats at Ashdown Place on the former Grampian site at Five Ash Down.
They will only be available for couples with children or those who are pregnant. Childless couples with strong local connections will be barred.
Buxted Parish Council has protested in the strongest terms to Wealden District Council that this policy will not meet the district council’s own objective for the new community to be ‘mixed, inclusive and sustainable’.
Older couples, perhaps wishing to move out of the family home (which can then be made available to another family) into a smaller property will be unable to do so.
The council has warned that if affordable homes do not go to local people then a community is likely to turn against such schemes.
The parish council will continue to lobby for changes to the district council’s allocation policy and will only support future developments if local people will benefit.
See also:
Uckfield council taxpayers will soon know new rate
County council takes over flood duties from Environment Agency
(Added to site Monday, February 14th, 2011)
