A COUNCIL leader has vowed to provide affordable housing at One Horton Heath despite concerns that it would be unviable. 

Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council Keith House told the Echo that "there is no risk" of the One Horton Heath scheme happening without affordable housing. 

It comes as amendments to the 2,500 home scheme are due to be considered at a meeting next week. 

One amendment that is proposed would be the removal of a Section 106 agreement which would see the removal of an affordable housing obligation for the site. 

Daily Echo: Cllr Keith House. Cllr Keith House. (Image: Stuart Martin)

In the report for the meeting, it states: "Since 2018 the financial climate for development has significantly changed.

"Due to high site infrastructure costs and non-housing S106 costs, including those for ecological mitigation, in addition to high build costs exacerbated by recent inflationary pressures, this review concludes that the site is not viable if the affordable housing obligation is not removed entirely.

“Although the scheme cannot deliver any affordable housing the scheme does provide £42.53m of associated infrastructure works and £113.65m of non-housing s106 obligations."

But despite this, Cllr House says the scheme will include affordable homes with grant funding and council resources being used to fund this aspect. 

Cllr House said: "The project is going well with work on the new road link from Burnetts Lane to Allington Lane underway and a start on housing delivery this summer.

"There is no risk of the development happening without the affordable housing element as it is a clear and strong political commitment."

READ MORE: Plans for 2,500 new homes at Horton Heath get green light

The planning application for outline planning permission was backed by councillors at a meeting in September 2021. 

As well as housing, it includes a "local centre" made up of residential, retail, leisure, community, employment, day nursery, and food establishment sites. 

The plans also outline proposals for a new primary school, public open space, allotments, as well as footpaths, roads and cycle paths. 

Council officers have recommended that the Horton Heath Development Management Committee approve the changes and the outline planning permission at the meeting next Thursday. 

Daily Echo: Demolition of Victoria House at One Horton Heath site. Demolition of Victoria House at One Horton Heath site. (Image: Kingsway Design and Advertising)

The meeting comes as demolition work has recently taken place at Victoria House on Fir Tree Lane as part of the One Horton Heath project.

Work to secure the site started in April with HWM Group working to demolish the building.