Homes subsidy decision deferred again

COUNCILLORS have again put off a decision whether to allow Wiggett Construction not to pay the council more than £467,000 in affordable housing subsidies.

Councillors at last night’s planning meeting, said previous decisions over the controversial Royal George Mills site in Greenfield had been based on “historic” and “outdated” information. House buying has picked up since December. Councillors were concerned they might agree to waive payments when the housing market was rising rather than static or falling.

The developer had previously for the payment to be waived subject to reassessment in three years over concerns about the project’s commercial viability .

Wiggett had agreed to pay £701,283 in three instalments, rather than build 20 per cent of the project as cheaper, affordable homes. The company has so far paid only one instalment.

Council agreement would see Wiggett’s payment capped at £233,761, rather than the full £701,000.