Planning - Summary of all comments - Amazon Web Services

251 Mr B Guyett - Chairman
We agree affodable housing is a key issue. The local secondary school reports teachers moving into the area are having
difficulties finding affordable accommodation in the area. However, it is unclear what figure this questionnaire is referring
to. The 1999 Housing Needs Survey refers to an additional 340 by 2004. Is there an update on this? Conversion of houses
into flats forms one solution and plannig policy should encourage such conversions in appropriate areas, particularly sites
close to services, town centres etc. Parking provision also needs to be considered to minimise on-street parking. The
existing policy of encouraging provision of affordable housing over retail outlets does not seem to be working and needs
review/promotion.
253 Mr M J Smith We are in a reasonable priced area at present and affordable housing is a myth.
255 Mr S Chilton Rochford specifically is just right.
The difficulty experienced by the Council by its previous strategy of relying on recycled land, is that many of these sites are
small, west Rayleigh aside, and therefore do not contribute to meeting affordable housing needs. This has led to a
significant shortfall highlighted by the Housing Needs Stud6y, particularly in areas in the eastern part of the District. As a
consequence, we agree with the proposed 40% figure, and can confirm my client's willingness to include such a proportion
257 Mr T Dodkins
within this site.
258 Figure for affordable housing is about right
The plan mentioned above would of course be Green Belt which is deemed to be precious. If it is so precious why are the
Council giving it away? In the future all building in the Green Belt should incur a penalty, i.e. 2 bed £20,000 3 bed £30,000
and so on. This money could be pooled to subsidise affordable housing. The people that want to live in a better state
should pay for the less fortunate. It would be absorbed into the general market and after a short time wouldn't be noticed. I
have spoken to many plot land owners who would be only to pleased to pay a penalty, most have owned the land for many
259 Mr M B Rogers years.
How can you build more affordable houses without them looking like the pre-war properties of which my wife as a little girl
lived in one she found them quite warm and cosy. You should consider them as families can no longer afford the builders'
260 Mr & Mrs Willey prices these days.
There is a danger that developers will seek to use the excuse "affordable" housing to obtain planning permission where it
would not otherwise be granted. This should be resisted. All sorts of dubious schemes will be promoted under the
261 S A Skinner
"affordable housing" banner. Be sceptical about them all.
At present, parish councils with lower than 3,000 residents can get affordable housing built, within a green belt area that
adjoins the residential area of their village. However, it seems very few parish councils go down this route. Perhaps,
because of the small size of their community they feel unable to take this on. Could the criteria be extended to larger
parishes who would be able to address these applications to the appropriate authorities. The ownership of the properties
262 Ms L Parish
within this scheme is 50% owned - 50% rented.