Release date: Thursday November 27

Social despair on the cards if affordable housing plan gets go-ahead

Soaring homelessness, crippling council taxes and the end to major housing development in Bournemouth…

That’s the prediction from the region’s biggest private landlord who says the council’s latest plans to increase affordable housing would actually bring social and economic despair.

Dave Wells, whose company is spending £10million on construction in the region this year, says he would not submit any future planning applications in the town if the proposal gets the thumbs up.

The proposal – to make developers build up to 40 per cent affordable housing on large developments – also removes the developer’s right to receive rent deposits or bonds from the council for tenants moving into affordable units.

Dave Wells said: “This could be perceived as social engineering. By not paying rental deposits for social tenants, the council is forcing landlords to offer affordable housing to more affluent employed tenants who can pay deposits.

“Having to give 40% in either housing or financial contributions will make big schemes unviable for most developers and there’ll be a halt to building in the town, crippling an already struggling construction industry. It will also lead to increased demand for housing and ultimately a rise in homelessness and increased use of low-quality bed and breakfasts.”

Dave Wells fears the likely increase in B&Bs to make up housing quotas will impact directly on council taxpayers - whilst housing allowance for flats comes direct from government, the cost of housing tenants in B&Bs is borne by the council direct.

Dave, a member of the National Landlords Association, added: “Bournemouth has come a long way and there’s been massive investment in improving the quality of affordable homes. This latest proposal will be a huge backwards step and one which will encourage the creation of ghettos and social isolation.”

Around 30 per cent of properties currently constructed by Dave Wells Properties are offered to the council for affordable housing.  The firm has planning permission for around 300 properties, which will be completed over the next three years.

Dave added: “I agree that Bournemouth needs more low cost accommodation and I hope there’ll be an opportunity to work with the council to draw up plans which both incentivises developers to build more affordable homes and ensures they’re allocated fairly so  the less affluent members of society aren’t excluded.”