A major developer which bought land from a golf club will not have to build affordable housing due to a “loophole” which critics have condemned in light of Scotland’s “housing emergency”.

CALA Homes has bought land from Dunbar Golf Club on which it plans to build 78 new homes. But as the project is billed as an “enabling development”, the housebuilder will not have to meet East Lothian Councils usual policy of making 25 per cent of the homes affordable.

New housing development can be given “enabling” status if it facilitates new rural development like agriculture, forestry or countryside recreation, or businesses that require a countryside location, according to the council’s local development plan.

Critics include the housing charity Shelter Scotland. It called for the reassessment of policies offering “lucrative loopholes” to housebuilders which allow them to avoid affordable housing contributions.

West Dunbartonshire Council refuses too comment to The Democrat.

THE FULL STORY IS ON THE FERRET WEBSITE

HOUSING: Councils offering “lucrative loopholes’ to developers, says housing charity

Councils offering “lucrative loopholes’ to developers, says housing charity

Councils offering “lucrative loopholes’ to developers, says housing charity

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