Work has begun on 20 new SCDC council homes in Swavesey, with another 15 new council houses in Foxton likely to begin construction in early 2016 – and, thanks in part to evidence from South Cambridgeshire District Council, planning rules which stopped affordable homes being built on small sites have been dropped.

A turf cutting ceremony last week marked the start of work on the 20 new houses in Fen Stanton Road North, near Moat Way, Swavesey.  They are expected to be completed next summer.

The new council properties will be made available to people who grew up and still live in the village as well as people who have a local connection to Swavesey.  The new development follows the four houses SCDC built in Linton in 2013.

Planning permission was also recently given for another 15 new council homes, this time in Foxton, with work possibly beginning in the New Year.

Cllr Sue Ellington, Chairman of South Cambridgeshire District Council and local member for Swavesey, said: “It's wonderful these much-needed new houses are being built – and I’m really pleased they'll be made available to people who grew up in the village or have close family links as they will go a long way to meeting the needs of the community.”

Cllr Mark Howell, cabinet member for housing, said: “We’re proud of our continuing success in delivering affordable homes for local people.

"A lot of hard work by the council, parish council and community has already been carried out – I can’t wait to hand over the keys to the families who will move in.”

Affordable home boost after legal ruling

Campaigning councillors have welcomed a legal ruling which has quashed government policy to allow small housing developments to be built without any affordable homes being provided.

Evidence from South Cambridgeshire District Council helped Reading Borough and West Berkshire Councils mount a legal challenge against the government which has led to the removal of 11 paragraphs added to the national planning practice guidance last November.

Councillors at SCDC wrote to, and met with, ministers after the government announced in November developments of ten homes or less would not need to provide any affordable housing with immediate effect.

The recent legal ruling has reversed this decision and, where viable, any development of three homes or more in the district will include affordable housing, or make a contribution to pool money for affordable housing to be delivered nearby.

The legal ruling also means the Council can once again secure developer contributions for community facilities from smaller developments where it is deemed essential.

Cllr Robert Turner, South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet member for planning, said: “As soon as this change in planning policy was announced in November, we lobbied ministers as it had a huge impact on our ability to deliver affordable housing where it is most needed.

“We have lots of small villages in the district and it is common for developments to be of ten homes or less.  The legal ruling is excellent news for these villages in particular, and I’m glad the evidence we provided helped the councils who led the charge to take on the government.”

Contact South Cambridgeshire District Council

          T  03450 450 500
          F  01954 713 149
          E  scdc@scambs.gov.uk
          T  @SouthCambs
          W www.scambs.gov.uk

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