'Priced out' - South Shields MP hits out a cost of new housing on site of old South Tyneside College
Emma Lewell, South Shields MP, has criticised the high prices of new housing at Scholars Park, urging developers to focus on affordable options for local buyers.
A developer building new homes in South Tyneside with a price tag touching £600,000 has been accused by an MP of slamming the door in the faces of local buyers.
Emma Lewell said she was concerned properties at the Scholars Park development - on the site of South Tyneside College – were priced too high for most people.
The South Shields Labour MP urged house builders to instead focus more on meeting local housing need than making a profit.
She spoke out after Miller Homes North East revealed the cheapest abodes in its first released tranche on the 9.3 hectare site was £285,000 – and the most expensive £599,000.
Under its planning permission to construct 198 houses, the Edinburgh firm does not have to provide affordable housing and has made no provision for it.
There are also no two-bed properties as was originally factored into the scheme, only those of three, four and five.
And South Tyneside Council’s controversial Local Plan document – which outlines housing need and which could be approved by councillors next week – does not compel affordable housing.
Despite the plan identifying a need for 309 new homes being built each year to 2040, it states only that developers should include such houses ‘where appropriate and viable'.
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics shows the average house price in the borough is £159,000, although one estate agent put the figure at around £200,000.
Criticising the Scholars Park prices, Ms Lewell said: “I have noted, with concern, the proposed costs of the new housing that is being built on the former South Tyneside College site.
“I have consistently made the case that what South Shields needs is more genuinely affordable and social housing.
“Too many local people, particularly first-time buyers and families are being priced out of the housing market.
“Developments should reflect the needs of the communities they serve, not simply what delivers the highest return for developers.”
Miller Homes took over the development when original builder Avant withdrew last year.
Avant planned 260 properties, a number criticised as being unviable by campaigners, but it did include two-bed development.
In response to Ms Lewell's criticism, Miller Homes said it had carried out extensive market research and believed the properties it was building were aligned with local need.
In a statement, sales director Lauren Angus said: “Miller Homes prides itself on delivering quality developments to meet the needs of local communities.
“Every single one of the homes sold at Scholars Park so far has been to local people, and 40% of all sales have been to first time buyers.
“There is significant demand for high-quality new homes in South Tyneside and this scheme plays a part in ensuring that the borough benefits from a diverse and healthy housing mix.
“We have been overwhelmed by the level of interest in the development selling five homes in the first 30 minutes of release – which is unprecedented – and demonstrates that the market is crying out for homes such as these, especially in such an attractive part of the North East.”
“Affordable housing requirements are set under planning conditions and this scheme – originally submitted to South Tyneside Council for planning consent by another developer – was never subject to any such requirements.
“We are proud, though, that this scheme is putting back into the community in South Tyneside, with the land receipt supporting the development of a new college campus that will deliver a fantastic new learning environment that will benefit thousands of young people from the area.”
South Tyneside Council did not comment.