Oakham 'starter homes' plan from Larkfleet Homes aims to meet demand for 'affordable' housing
Plans have been submitted for 128 ‘starter’ homes in Oakham.
Developer Larkfleet Homes says the scheme proposed for land set aside for employment, will help price locals into the housing market.
The outline application to Rutland County Council concerns 3.9ha of land which has been allocated for employment since 2001.
Plans for employment use at the site off Hackamore Way were approved in 2006, but very little has been developed.
Most development has been for retail, such as Aldi, a pub and hotel. Further non-employment use sees plans for a McDonald's nearby.
In the application, Larkfleet planning director Mark Mann said as employment land the proposed site was ‘underused and unviable’.
Now, Rutland also has other competing employment sites, including the county council’s own redevelopment of Ashwell Prison into Oakham Enterprise Park.
Competition will grow further with expansion at Ashwell, plus the St George’s Barracks redevelopment, which includes 14 ha of employment land.
Keeping the site for employment “does not make sense” especially when Rutland has “failed consistently” to meet affordable homes targets.
Supplying 128 starter homes ‘will help address this issue’ without affecting employment land supply, as St George’s Barracks will make up any loss, he added.
Larkfleet plans to sell the homes to eligible under 40s at a 20 per cent discount on market value, with a preference given to locals. To meet legislation, homes would sell for under £250,000 and “most will be substantially lower than this.”
A spokesman for Larkfleet added: “There is a huge demand for affordable housing in Oakham and the surrounding area to help local families who are being priced out of the housing market.”
The application site comes under Barleythorpe Parish Council, which said it will comment after it receives details on the application.
Oakham Town Council said it will comment after members discuss the proposal at a future meeting.
