HOUSEBUILDERS Redrow are seeking permission to squeeze more profit out of their controversial green belt development in the east of the borough.

The debate over whether to grant permission for the housing estate on land off Lower Dunton Road raged for several years and permission was finally granted after the original developers agreed to fund a new building to be used as hospice and operated by St Luke's Hospice.

Redrow then stepped in and bought the land to build homes – though they did not take on responsibility for the hospice build. That remains with the developers Skye Strategic Land – a company put together by northern-based property speculators.

Orginally the site was earmarked for 50 homes but the developers went back to the council - having established the principle of building on the green belt site - saying the scheme wasn't viable unless they were given permission to up the number of homes to 80.

The original plan was for 50 homes, five of which would be three bed 20 would be four bed and there would be 25 five bed homes.

Then the developers went back to the council and said they couldn't afford just to build 50 houses and pointed at changes in the demand for homes, asking instead for 40 three bed homes and 40 four bed homes.

Permission was granted as councillors felt there was merit in creating 'affordable' smaller family homes.

Now, at this week's planning meeting (Thursday, 16 July) the wheel appears to have turned again and Redrow have come back and want to drop the number of three bed homes to just 14, build 59 four bed homes and seven five bed homes - increasing the revenue they are likely to get from sales.

The hospice building is now close to completion and will shortly be ready for occupation, though St Luke's have recently been on the front foot to local communities detailing their increased financial pressures because of the stresses put on their service due to Covid-19.

In a report by officers to Thursday's meeting, it is stressed that the creation of the hospice and the number of 'affordable homes' were key to the green light being given for the scheme.

However, officers have recommended that the changes in the make-up of the site be granted - allowing Redrow to build larger and more expensive homes.

The larger homes are likely to bring bigger families and exert more pressure on already overcrowded school lists and medical resources - while opponents also claim there will be more cars going in and out of the site on what is already a dangerous junction.