Musings from the Merse
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Cheap Houses? We have got'em? But not that many. Fortunately
Cognoscenti of inappropriate development may hear some alarm bells ringing following a decision by the Scottish Borders Council to reject planing guidelines proposed by a private consultant aimed at ensuring that 30% of new private building developments are 'affordable housing' Help! shrieked the developers ( JS Crawford and Cala-nominated shrieker of the year) are you trying to drive us out of business? We want to build lots of Cardronas (and 'Orchards') not slums for the indigent needy. No money in that. The SBC agreed that God and the Council was on the side of the big battalions and agreed on smaller quotas up to a maximum of 25% and down to 15% in North Ettrick and Lauderdale.
The Berwickshire quota is set as at 'up to' 20% and although in these parts the new local plan rules out green field projects apart from infill sites it would be unwise to relax too much. 'Affordable housing' despite the restricted view taken by SBC is still a difficult concept for any aspiring politician to oppose. So some ambitious laird offering a corner of a large field to a building association is likely to meet an enthusiastic response. Oops! Ten cheap houses-oh dear that ruined the field for my turnips. 'Nae Bother' says Findum, Buildum, Screwum and Runn-we 'll take the rest of the field off your hands and with the Building Association we will gladly provide 10 slum clearance properties just behind the spanking new septic tank which will be over there. Social duty done we will knock up 50 luxury executive desirable residences to make this social engineering acceptable to the directors.That's near enough 20% isn't it SBC? And Mr Parker, Leader of the SBC, we are doing our bit in, to quote your philosophical words : meeting SBC's 'overall strategy of promoting and encouraging economic growth'
Everyone happy? Yes with the possible exception of the local community.
Don't mind them and their community council
Load of Nimbies.
They will soon get over it.
Good for the local school.
But that we closed over a year ago.
Oh. Can't win them all, I suppose.
Tell you what.How about a couple of new swings in the playground? Development with a heart. Ain't it?
Cognoscenti of inappropriate development may hear some alarm bells ringing following a decision by the Scottish Borders Council to reject planing guidelines proposed by a private consultant aimed at ensuring that 30% of new private building developments are 'affordable housing' Help! shrieked the developers ( JS Crawford and Cala-nominated shrieker of the year) are you trying to drive us out of business? We want to build lots of Cardronas (and 'Orchards') not slums for the indigent needy. No money in that. The SBC agreed that God and the Council was on the side of the big battalions and agreed on smaller quotas up to a maximum of 25% and down to 15% in North Ettrick and Lauderdale.
The Berwickshire quota is set as at 'up to' 20% and although in these parts the new local plan rules out green field projects apart from infill sites it would be unwise to relax too much. 'Affordable housing' despite the restricted view taken by SBC is still a difficult concept for any aspiring politician to oppose. So some ambitious laird offering a corner of a large field to a building association is likely to meet an enthusiastic response. Oops! Ten cheap houses-oh dear that ruined the field for my turnips. 'Nae Bother' says Findum, Buildum, Screwum and Runn-we 'll take the rest of the field off your hands and with the Building Association we will gladly provide 10 slum clearance properties just behind the spanking new septic tank which will be over there. Social duty done we will knock up 50 luxury executive desirable residences to make this social engineering acceptable to the directors.That's near enough 20% isn't it SBC? And Mr Parker, Leader of the SBC, we are doing our bit in, to quote your philosophical words : meeting SBC's 'overall strategy of promoting and encouraging economic growth'
Everyone happy? Yes with the possible exception of the local community.
Don't mind them and their community council
Load of Nimbies.
They will soon get over it.
Good for the local school.
But that we closed over a year ago.
Oh. Can't win them all, I suppose.
Tell you what.How about a couple of new swings in the playground? Development with a heart. Ain't it?
Comments:
Let's not forget that the underlying strategy of SBC is to increase the private, home owning, tax paying population of the Borders as fast as possible. Only then is there is income to pay for subsidised "affordable housing". Sounds to me the Laird is backing a winner. He gets his name on a few affordable houses and a million quid in his pocket!
BTW, Did you know that the Borders is already one of the highest rural council tax areas in the UK?
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BTW, Did you know that the Borders is already one of the highest rural council tax areas in the UK?
# posted by 
: 3:10 PM
: 3:10 PM
