Haringey Council asked developer to reduce affordable housing at Mayes Road in Wood Green

Haringey Council breached its own policy by advising the developer Weston Homes to reduce affordable housing at the Mayes Road site in Wood Green, which is already under construction. The developer made a late application to vary the plan, and at first offered a policy compliant scheme with additional affordable housing. But Haringey Council said NO. The applicant deleted twelve affordable homes, and added seven more market homes; and then Haringey Council said YES. 'Officers confirmed they would be supportive of the adjusted tenure distribution as it reflected their concerns from the Pre-application 1 meeting.'

Haringey's Local Plan policy states that 'The Council will seek the maximum reasonable amount of affordable housing provision when negotiating on individual private residential and mixed-use schemes'. That didn't happen at Mayes Road. 

Haringey's housing tenure policies have improved greatly in recent times: with social rent instead of affordable rent, and social rent instead of shared ownership.  So the Council's behaviour at Mayes Road is way out of line with its declared policies. Hence people's objections could make a big difference this time.

There is more detail on our Wordpress site: https://haringeydefendcouncilhousingblog.wordpress.com/2022/10/29/h...

Catherine West MP has shown the way forward with an objection which calls for a minimum of 50% of new homes to be at Council Social Rent.

Please rush your objections in. You do not need to be a Haringey resident to do so. Go to: www.planningservices.haringey.gov.uk and search for case reference number HGY/2022/2452, then scroll down to ‘Comment on Application’ to add your objection.

Here is a suggestion: "The proposed reduction in affordable housing is completely unacceptable, and breaches the Council’s affordable housing policy. It is also unacceptable that a policy compliant scheme was offered by the developer but refused by the Council. 50 per cent of the dwellings on this site should be Council homes let at Social Rent."

All comments and questions are welcome.