A DEVELOPER which reneged on its vow to provide affordable homes at its 106-home site due to squeezed margins has won its appeal to proceed without.

Planning bosses had approved applicant Redmile Homes’ plan to build on a site off Goldthorpe Road, however details of a Section 106 agreement - which sees developers commit to a raft of remedial measures such as green space improvements, active travel and on-site affordable housing - were not finalised.

After the applicant performed a U-turn on its intention to allow ten per cent of the homes to be classed as ‘affordable’, the council then pulled the plug on its approval, leading Redmile Homes to launch an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.

Following an investigation, it was revealed last week that the government-run body - which has the power to overturn a local authority’s decision - had sided with the applicant and allowed the planning consent to go ahead with zero affordable homes.

Redmile Homes’ bosses cited ‘significant’ economic changes including inflation and construction costs as reasons as to why affordable homes were unviable.

A total of 36 two-bed, 55 three-bed and 15 four-bed properties will be built.

A report said: “The appeal proposal was approved by the council in July 2023, subject to the main parties entering into a planning obligation pursuant to Section 106 for, among other things, the provision of ten per cent affordable housing.

“The affordable housing was to be provided as six dwellings on site and five as a commuted sum.

“However, a completed S106 under the terms initially agreed was not finalised.

“The level of affordable housing now being offered is zero per cent rather than ten per cent of the total number of homes.

“The viability appraisal report has been independently reviewed and agreed by a council-appointed specialist.

“Because of this, there is common ground between the council and appellant that the appeal scheme would be unviable with affordable housing and I have no reason to disagree.

“There have been significant economic changes, including increases in inflation, interest rates on mortgages and construction costs.

“This has had a significant impact on the viability of the scheme.”

Redmile also sought costs from the council, which was upheld by the inspector.

“The appellant submits that Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council acted unreasonably insofar as it disregarded the viability evidence submitted by the applicant, the findings of which were independently verified, failed to substantiate its opposition of the proposed scheme with evidence and failed to consider the scheme against the development plan as a whole.

“As a result, the appeal has caused unnecessary expense.

“The applicant is now invited to submit to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, to whom a copy of this decision has been sent, details of those costs with a view to reaching agreement as to the amount.”