A town council meeting saw councillors condemn developers for making applications that don’t meet minimum affordable housing requirements.

At a Bicester Town Council meeting on the evening of Monday, March 14, town councillors unanimously criticised developers who make planning applications which do not meet the 30 per cent affordable housing requirement for new housing developments, which is listed as a requirement in the Cherwell local plan.

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Councillor Lynn Pratt said: “Developers shouldn’t put applications in if they can’t make the 30 per cent affordable housing minimum.”

Councillor Les Sibley added: “If you can’t afford 30 per cent affordable housing – one of our main policies in the local plan – then don’t put in an application. We can’t build Bicester on the cheap.”

Speaking on planning applications made for Bicester’s ecotown, Elmsbrook, councillor Nick Mawer commented: “Our ecotown is the only one in the country, and if we can’t build it to our standards then we might as well stop.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1