Forum Topic

Nat-West Vs Morrisons developments

The Essential Living ‘Morrisons’ development is, if I remember correctly, 255 flats, 15% affordable and 42 m high. The ‘Nat West’ development is 29 m high, 96 flats and 100% affordableBoth sites are about the same size and almost opposite each other.I believe one of the reasons for accepting the Morrisons plan was an inability of the developer to make a profit if they had to abide by the affordable housing and maximum height requirements of the Local Plan.Is Essential Living a particularly incompetent developer?

Lorne Gifford ● 3048d4 Comments

Far be it from me to defend Essential Living but the difference is that Block D is council owned land (or will be after some land swaps) plus the 100% affordable in Block D sits with the (I think) entirely private full-fat Ballymore development (not au fait with details because this was approved before I was a councillor).We try pretty hard to get 40% affordable (as per local plan) on new developments but providing this is always subject to viability assessments. I am the sceptical type, but if the council's (external) expert agrees with the developers assessment it's hard to argue, especially as the developer can (and frequently they do) appeal to the Planning Inspectorate who are unlikely to argue with viability assessments agreed by all parties. LBH do try and get retrospective review of viability, which I'm told is regarded as innovative and is part of the reason the planning department wins awards.It's 6 storeys at the High St - as I'm on the planning committee I can't come to a definitive view until the application is presented to the committee or I will be precluded from voting.

Guy Lambert ● 3047d

Thanks Guy. Do you think you might ask the council's in-house property development company, Lampton 360, to trim the height back to the LBH Local Plan requirement for 6 storeys. May be they could also advise Essential Living on how to make a development a viable business proposition without ignoring all the rules. But then Essential Living appear to only care about maximising profit, so a little fibbing and arm bending is probably part of their operating model.

Lorne Gifford ● 3047d

It's part of the general redevelopment south of the High Street. This block will be developed and owned by the council whilst the rest of the site will be Ballymore. If you look at the plan on the home page, it sets it in context. This is Block D

Guy Lambert ● 3048d

Is the Nat West development a stand alone development or is it part of the wider Ballymore scheme?

James Homer ● 3048d