Councillors feel they have been “misled” by property developers as Caerphilly County Borough Council struggles to reach its affordable housing targets.
Members of the Policy and Resources Committee expressed their anger at certain sites in the county borough remaining undeveloped, or being built on with reduced affordable housing provision.
The targets for affordable housing on new developments ranges from 40% in the Caerphilly basin area to 25% in the north of the county borough.
But the council is falling short of its housebuilding targets, with only 251 affordable homes built through the planning process out of a targeted 964 before 2021.
Plaid Cymru councillor Lindsay Whittle, who represents Penyrheol, said: “We are being misled by developers, we have to be a lot harsher with them.”
At the scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, April 10, Cllr Whittle asked planning officer Tim Stephens if the council could deny a planning application if developers refused to meet the council’s targets.
But Mr Stephens said: “It’s only a target, and if it’s not viable for the developers then we have to accept a reduced figure.
“Developers know the targets exist but they have their own set fixed costs, including their profit margins.
“If the developer can’t make what they expect to be a profit, and the landowner can’t sell the land at a price that they feel is satisfactory, then no development takes place.
“We’re caught in the middle of that tension.”
Labour councillor Roy Saralis, of Penmaen, questioned why developers could be allowed to “cut affordable housing simply to increase their profit margins”.
Committee chair councillor James Pritchard described the current situation as “unacceptable” and said members “weren’t content with the status quo”.
The Labour councillor for Morgan Jones also suggested that the authority expand its plans to build more council houses in the borough.
The committee will next meet on May 29 to discuss a programme which could see the council develop 46 new-build homes.
But Cllr Pritchard said: “We could consider a mass council building programme to make sure that the council is going to get people living in affordable housing that they can afford to rent.
“I think we need far above the 46 potential houses to mitigate against low levels of affordable housing completed through the planning process.”
Independent councill Nigel Dix, who represents Blacwood, said: “Caerphilly council failure to meet its modest targets to building social housing is totally unacceptable.
“If the council are serious about building more social housing they need a clear policy in place that priorities the sale of council-owned land for the use of social housing.
“With no policy in place, decisions on the sale and development of council-owned land is left to a handful of council officer and cabinet members, where decisions are being taken with no meaningful scrutiny or oversight.
“The current approach is not working and needs to be urgently addressed.”
He added: “This council is letting down those in need of affordable good quality housing. It’s time for this council to get its house in order and prioritise council owned land for the use of desperately needed social housing.”
What I don’t understand, is why the Caerphilly council are selling off land that is owed by them to developers to build housing on.
But will not build affordable homes themselves on the land thay own.
Caerphilly council are lazy overspending and don’t invest.
Love over burdening people, love spending money, and not accounting for mistakes thay have committed.
The council is selling off land because they have run out of money and it’s their way of recouping the money. Second point they can’t build the houses themselves because they don’t have the money in their budget. They would rather waste money on over paid managers , gimmicks and departments that cost us the tax payers money.
This is entirely the councils fault, not the developers. Without regular checks these companies have taken their time while councillors have sat back and allowed this to happen. The council should have drawn up a time table with these companies, detailing when certain phases should be completed by. If I have work done in my house I don’t sit back and do nothing if I see the builder not doing their job. I would question him/her as to what was happening. But as usual the council with their useless managers and old fashion councillors have completely take their eye off the ball. In my eyes the only people accountable for this fiasco is Caerphilly council
Why isn’t the Welsh Goverment / Wales Audit Office or some other impartial body monitoring this apalling situation ?
What is happening in other areas of the UK ? is there any impartial monitoring taking place anywhere ?
As one Councillor states, 46 is far below the number of houses required.
The assembly like the council constantly take their eye off the ball, they also waste public money on gimmicks and departments that do not work, its funny how both are Labour led?
There needs to be more independent scrutiny of these organisations.
With all the new developments going on there should be enough affordable properties that will be available for this cash stricken Council to use for affordable housing.
We need new developments more housing for our growing community.
Housing associations need to build more with caerphilly council.