New block of flats for Welling submitted without a single affordable home

Plans are in for flats in Welling beside Shell petrol station.

The site is 175 Bellegrove Road where 20 flats are proposed. Once again in Bexley borough we see a development where no affordable housing is offered and developers claim it’s “unviable”.

Bexley council really do need to scrutinise viability reports to a far higher degree. To claim sites like this permit no affordable housing seems extremely far fetched unless developer overpaid for a plot to an extreme degree – in which case that’s their fault.

That’s no excuse to shirk the 35 per cent minimum level. Let’s not forget the definition of “affordable” has already been stretched to such a degree as to make it extremely unaffordable to many people at 80 per cent of market rates. Given new builds often have a 20 per cent price premium an “affordable” homes is now often the same price as existing homes.

And like many other blocks no money has gone into good design here. The block will win any awards though the site appears ideal for new homes. It’s close to good transport links with Welling station a short stroll away and a number of bus routes passing outside.

Click here to view plans.