New Retirement Village needs affordable housing?

January 29, 2009 · Filed Under Development, Nairn 

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The P&J reports on problems Morton Retirement Living is having in setting up a retirement village, which in scope sounds initially similar to the Firhall Village development on the Cawdor road:

Nairn awaits decision on housing

A Highland community is awaiting the verdict of a test case in which a businessman hopes for special dispensation from rules demanding the inclusion of an element of “affordable homes” within a residential development.

The verdict of a Scottish Government appeals hearing into the project is expected within eight weeks.

Morton Retirement Living is planning a retirement home complex in woodland beside Nairn’s Newton Hotel.

The company raised the appeal after months of inconclusive council debate about its planning application.

Apparently, the A96 corridor plan demands all residential developments include 25% “affordable housing”.

Unfortunately, “affordable housing” has become such a politically correct word – in practical terms it means small cramped living homes that no one would really want to live in.

(Unless of course, you set up flats with sea views as “affordable” in planning, only to designate for sale as “luxury”).

And with the credit crunch continuing to decimate the property market, it seems as though housing will become more affordable anyway.

While Scotland has escaped the worse so far, the UK property market acts in ripples, with changes to the London market extending out over time, and Scotland traditionally being impacted by market changes last.

Looking at the current local property market, it’s pretty flat, some property is already been sold on discount, yet estate agents are still trying to sell on price as if the credit crunch never existed.

While I’m happy to support the development of Nairn as a destination, I think the designation of 25% “affordable housing” is a mistake.

Aside from the complete presumption of a Nairn by-pass and dualled A96 in the corridor plan (which seems to have expected both by now), we need to think carefully about the sort of developments that people will actually need, as opposed to setting strict regulations on what should be built.

Would it not make sense to allow market forces some room here outside of government interference, and allow communities to determine whether a development is desirable or not?

After all, a big problem with the Sandown development is not simply it’s size – but the fact that it’s a high density building plan.

I’m not convinced that the focus on cheap and nasty housing is really what Nairn needs, when instead developments could be encouraged on their own merits?

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