A COUNCILLOR has called for windfall cash from housing developments in rural villages to be spent on affordable housing only within those communities.

Adrian Naylor wants the ‘commuted’ cash from new private estates in Silsden, Steeton, Eastburn and Addingham to be ring-fenced until suitable land becomes available within each village for social housing.

He believes this will enable young people who grew up in each community to remain, rather than being forced to move to Keighley where houses are cheaper.

He claims that under the current system Bradford Council can spend the cash anywhere, meaning new social housing was likely to be built in central Keighley rather than outlying areas.

Cllr Naylor, who sits on both Silsden and Bradford councils, made the plea after Bradford councils agreed to change planning conditions for a 142-home development in Silsden.

Council planners had originally ordered the developer at Riverside Works, Keighley Road, to build affordable homes as part of the estate, on the same site.

Following a successful application this month, the developer will instead pay £348,439 to be used to towards affordable housing either in Craven or an adjoining ward, which could include Keighley.

For many years the council has forced developers to provide a proportion of affordable housing on large estates.

Developers are increasingly back-tracking on the deals, claiming they cannot afford to build affordable housing themselves in rural areas.

Cllr Naylor said some developers’ profit margins were affected by having affordable housing on the same sites as private houses, which would sell for many thousands of pounds more.

Meanwhile, social landlords such as housing associations were unable to afford to build low-cost rented accommodation in rural areas because land costs were too high.

He suggested the ‘commuted’ sum from one developer could be used to either subsidise another developer’s affordable housing, or to help housing associations buy valuable land in villages.

He said: “I’ve asked Bradford housing department that, rather than using the money that comes in to build in Keighley, to hold onto the money in case land becomes available in South Craven.

“My concern is that people in the towns and villages in Craven can’t afford to buy the executive homes that are being built. They need an opportunity to stay and live in the village.

“Local people can no longer afford to live in the villages and towns they were born and brought up in. It creates a dormitory aspect to the communities, with residents working in Leeds.

“There are no suitable sites within Craven at the moment for affordable housing. If land available to build on, developers know they can get a good value for the properties they build there.”

But Bradford Council said money would not normally be "ring-fenced".

A spokesman added: "In the case of the recent application for housing in Silsden, the developer offered to make a financial contribution to help deliver local affordable housing.

"The committee resolved to grant permission subject to payment of a contribution of £348,439 for the provision of off-site affordable housing in the Craven ward, or an adjacent ward.

"It is normally the case that as a first choice the money is spent within the same ward, but this will depend upon suitable land and an affordable housing scheme coming forward in the future.

"The council would not normally 'ring-fence' the money to a given town or village because an affordable housing project might not come forward in the near future in that area.

"However, the council always welcomes input from local ward members concerning suggestions for the spending of S106 money, including affordable housing contributions. These can then be considered by officers and ultimately by the council’s regulatory and appeals committee when future applications are being considered."