Affordable Homes For Local People - New study needs your views

Residents have until Monday 8th June to let us have their thoughts on the Affordable Housing Site Viability Study.

The study looks at whether it is practical for developers to provide affordable homes as part of new housing developments in their area.

But why do we need to provide affordable housing when there is so much terraced housing around?

Councillor David Clegg, who represents planning matters in Pendle, said:

"Despite the current recession, the gap between wages and housing costs continues to grow.

"Increasing numbers of families are simply being priced out of a decent home. They are faced with the dilemma of living in crowded or sub-standard conditions, or moving away from the community in which they grew up.

"Affordable housing can help address this - it has an important role to play in the future of housing in Burnley and Pendle.

"We may be in a recession, but now is the time to plan and it's important for local people to have their say."

To reflect the different types of site to be found in Burnley and Pendle, 16 sites, eight in each borough, were included in the study. Both urban and rural locations were considered.

Sites ranged in size from 12 to 135 homes and were mainly on used 'brownfield' land rather than new 'greenfield' sites.

As part of each Council's commitment to public involvement in the preparation of new planning documents, the public consultation on the Affordable Housing Site Viability Study will run for six weeks until Monday 8th June 2009.

The study is available to view in Council buildings and local libraries throughout Burnley and Pendle. It can also be viewed or downloaded from each Council's website.

Pendle Council is co-ordinating the consultation, so all comments should be provided by letter or email to:

Letter: Planning Policy & Conservation, Pendle Council, Town Hall, Market Street, Nelson, BB9 7LG

Email:  ldf@pendle.gov.uk