DEVELOPERS planning to build 2,000 homes on the edge of Taunton are trying to wriggle out of an obligation for one in four of the properties to be affordable housing.

Fears have been expressed that further down the line they could also try to reduce the quality of the homes to save more money.

A consortium of developers claims demands for 25 per cent - 500 - of the homes to be for affordable rent or intermediate housing are "jeopardising the viability" of the multi-million pound urban extension at Comeytrowe/Trull.

The applicants - Taylor Wimpey, MacTaggart and Mickel, Bovis Homes and Summerfield Developments - also plan to supply employment land, land for a primary school, a local centre and park and bus facility.

Taunton Deane Borough Council planners supported the application in January 2016 provided certain conditions, including the affordable housing figures, were met.

Officers are now recommending the decision be delegated to them on the condition the consortium agrees to build 350 affordable homes, representing 17.5 per cent, after the developers lobbied to lower the 25 per cent figure.

A planning meeting to discuss the proposal takes place at Brittons Ash Community Centre, Bathpool, next Wednesday (April 25) at 6.15pm.

Comeytrowe ward councillor Habib Farbahi and three fellow LibDems have written to householders saying the changes should be blocked.

The letter says: "The Tory-majority council forced through the outline planning permission for the development on January 27, 2016, with a quota of 500 affordable homes.

"If this new application goes ahead, there will be 150 fewer affordable homes. Who will profit from this? Not local people - only the developer consortium.

"The developers should be forced to stick to the 25 per cent originally planned or told to go elsewhere."

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Cllr Mark Edwards (Conservative), who represents Trull, called the proposed reduction in affordable homes "hugely disappointing".

He added: "The developers and the landowners must have been aware of the viability challenges last year and sadly it appears they are now using the planning system to reduce their liabilities and reneging on delivering what was originally agreed.

"I am also very concerned that once we get into the detailed applications they will then try and reduce the quality of development that they previously proposed.

"We need the houses but not at any cost and any reduction in quality and design must be resisted."

John Lougher, of Bovis Homes, said the consortium welcomes the officers' recommendations.


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He added: "The council’s officer has acknowledged that, as with other significant local schemes, the level of affordable housing and tenure split normally required by the council would adversely impact the delivery of the proposals.

"We're therefore proposing up to 350 affordable homes, a 17.5 per cent provision, which is supported by the council’s officers."