A local developer and Dorchester Chamber for Business member has called for a rethink on Weymouth’s neighbourhood plan, amid concerns about its impact on small site housebuilding.
Malcolm Curtis, chief executive of the Redtale Group and director of Koori Ltd, has warned that proposals in the planning blueprint will make infill housing schemes unviable.
He has written to Dorset Council planning committee councillors and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – Angela Rayner – regarding the issue.
The Weymouth neighbourhood plan set outs policies for the town’s future development, up to 2038.
Mr Curtis has warned that proposals to make schemes of between two and nine units on smaller sites of less than half a hectare eligible for affordable housing contributions, will make development unviable.
Under the proposals, such schemes must provide 35% affordable housing or the developer must make a financial contribution proportionate to the provision of 35% affordable housing.
This is contra to both Dorset Council’s local plan and national planning policy, that recognises the additional costs to deliver small sites and states affordable housing provision should only start at 10 homes or more.
Dorchester-based Redtale Group and its partner companies, are behind award-winning residential developments in south Dorset.
Mr Curtis said:
“We understand the importance of affordable housing and have contributed over many years in payments and the provision of affordable homes, on and off site.
“In addition to affordable housing we make financial community contributions. Most recently this has included £450,000 in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments to Dorset Council for local community facilities, in addition to nine affordable community land trust homes at May Bower Gardens on the Isle of Portland.
“The measures proposed in the Weymouth neighbourhood plan that sites under nine plots will also have to pay, will mean that small sites will be unviable and that there will be very few, if indeed any, small developments delivered in Weymouth by small and medium sized builders or developers.
“The consequences of this policy, will mean you can probably say goodbye to any open market schemes with under 20 units, as it is only when you get to a minimum of circa 20 units that it is viable to provide affordable housing at 35%.
“We know this, as we have been calculating these numbers for years. This policy produces a negative land value and zero profit. No profit means no houses, affordable or open market, and vacant brownfield land.”
In the latest phase of neighbourhood plan consultation, residents and interested parties are able to lodge comments with Dorset Council until 7th March 2025.
It will be considered by an independent planning examiner before it goes to a local referendum later this year. If approved, it becomes part of planning policy for Weymouth.
Redtale employs nine staff members and is based at Vespasian House in Dorchester. It is behind schemes of varying sizes from five to one hundred units.
Recent housing developments include Lorton Park, The Grove and Monterey Place in Weymouth, Barrack House in Dorchester and May Bower Gardens on the Isle of Portland, where the island’s first community land trust (CLT) to provide affordable housing for local people is currently under construction.
Visit https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/weymouth-neighbourhood-plan for more about the neighbourhood plan and https://redtalegroup.com/ for about the Redtale Group.
With around 100 members any business in Dorset can join Dorchester Chamber from business for £60p/a (no VAT).
