IT’S a controversial housing development spanning two decades that has sparked calls for resignations, seen a councillor suspended and another stripped of his planning duties.

And now the latest twist in the Manydown saga sees councillors taking to the battlefield over how many affordable houses are built on the major Basingstoke development.

Councillor Paul Harvey, deputy leader of the borough’s Labour group, and Labour member for Popley East, Cllr David Potter, called for the borough council to ensure that 40 per cent of all new homes built on Manydown would be affordable, in a motion to full council in December.

The site is earmarked for 3,400 new homes between now and 2029.

Now, after seeking legal advice on the motion, officers at the borough council have told councillors that it would be premature to make any promises and it could leave them open to a legal challenge.

The Gazette has not been able to view the legal advice provided to the borough council ahead of the Manydown overview committee meeting, as it has been deemed confidential information.

However, the council report says: “The level of affordable housing is likely to have an impact on the viability and profitability of the development.

“Consequently, BDBC members are not in a position to make a sound decision about this potential action. A reasonable decision could not be made as all the material facts are not yet known.”

Frustrated by the news, Cllr Paul Harvey told the meeting on February 9: “The danger it sets not to commit to it is the precedent it sets to private developers coming into the borough. If we can’t do it on land we own, how do we expect private developers to do it on land they own?”

Overton councillor Ian Tilbury said that he was “very dubious” about the legal advice and reminded the committee that Manydown was bought from the proceeds of the sale of former council houses in 1993 to provide more affordable homes.

Cllr Sean Keating, Labour ward member for South Ham, added: “I wish I was convinced we are all on the same side. This is a community benefit issue. The best value is for the community, the homeless, people on the waiting list, and people who need cheaper housing.”

But Cllr Izett defended the recommendation not to press ahead with the motion, telling the meeting: “If we commit now to 40 per cent affordable housing, however much we all want to do that before many months of work that has to be done by experts on the financial impacts, we may never be able to deliver a viable development.

“As an administration and portfolio holder, we support the borough policy of 40 per cent affordable housing and I want that to be registered once more. I must take the legal advice received externally seriously.”

After the Manydown executive committee agreed not to proceed with the motion, the borough’s Labour group headed to the site and vowed to continue fighting for 40 per cent affordable housing.

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