Harworth Group has doubled the number of affordable homes at its landmark Ironbridge regeneration, following the local authority’s vote to refuse the scheme last month.
The strategic land specialist has boosted the contribution from just 5% to 10%. The fresh plans will be debated by Shropshire Council’s southern planning committee next week, after Harworth lodged a legal complaint over the earlier meeting.
Harworth wants to build 1,000 homes, a retirement village, primary school and more than 200,000 sq ft of commercial space at the site of the old Ironbridge Power Station. But its original plans put forward just 50 affordable homes, or 5% of the total homes planned. Shropshire Council’s local policy stipulates 20% affordable housing.
Shropshire Council went against its planning officer’s recommendation and voted to refuse the outline planning application in August, citing a lack of affordable housing and infrastructure, and describing the development as “unsustainable”.
Harworth has pushed back against the decision in the weeks since, according to council documents. Before a refusal note could be issued, the company lodged a legal complaint over the handling of an email sent to the committee by an objector during the August meeting, which alleged that the council’s viability consultant had a conflict of interest.
The company is now proposing to lift the proportion of affordable homes to 10%. It will also increase capital funding for healthcare from the proposed £500,000 to £913,000, and increase the funding contribution for improvements to the Gaskell Arms junction at Much Wenlock by £100,000 to £350,000.
The council has said that the “material” changes, alongside the fact that the refusal note was not issued, means the scheme must now be brought back to committee.
The updated scheme will be debated by the Planning Committee next week, and is again recommended for approval.
Harworth today revealed the results of a strategy review launched by new chief executive, Lynda Shillaw. The company aims to double the value of its assets to £1bn over the next five to seven years, through a rise in direct development, broader focus on residential products, growing the strategic land bank and churning its investment portfolio.
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