Concerns raised at whether £16m council housing scheme in Stanmore is value for money

Winchester City Council is set to submit a planning application for The Valley in Stanmore.

The scheme will consist of up to 76 new council homes. So far the council has held consultations with residents about the plan.

But councillors at a cabinet housing committee expressed fears that the homes are not the right type for families in Winchester.

The scheme consists of 31 one-bedroom flats, 28 two-bedroom flats, three three-bedroom flats, 11 two-bedroom houses, two three-bedroom houses and one three-bedroom bungalow.

City councillor Ian Tait, who takes a keen interest in housing issues and was the only councillor to vote to support building on Barton Farm, said: “In terms of viability we have got a cost of £16 million – that’s £210,000 a dwelling that’s not including any land value, how robust is our system to determine that is value for money?”

Housing Hosuing manager Richard Botham explained the high cost of the scheme is due to the sloping nature of the site, hence its name.

Mr Botham also explained that people will often go for one to two-bedroom properties as they are more affordable.

Cllr Tait then expressed fears that the scheme is simply not the right one for Winchester.

He said: “Family housing that’s what’s been lost from Stanmore and what we are building here is not family homes.

“This is not the housing what people want, this housing is expensive, £16 million for 76 properties! Our build cost here is more expensive than the premium quality development in Sleepers Hill, this is not value for money.”

Cllr Eileen Berry said the scheme should have focused on bigger family homes.

Cllr Berry said: “I am all for more homes but I am more for family homes, why build one-bedroom flats when homes are needed for families?”

Welcoming the scheme for the area was Cllr councillor Jamie Scott who said there has been a loss of housing in Stanmore with right to buy seeing homes going into private ownership and then on to landlords who convert them in Homes in Multiple Occupation and let them to students and young professionals.

Cllr Scott said the scheme will give the area a lift, but added that people are keeping a close eye on potential parking issues.

The meeting heard how the rents will be 70 per cent of market value, and the scheme will also see the disposal of some open space.

The city council has a policy of building 300 council houses, for people on the waiting list over 10 years. It is currently well ahead of target.

Some 800 homes will be built at Barton Farm, now called Kings Barton.