A call to remove an affordable housing contribution for a 100-home site in Pembrokeshire, being developed as a “100 per cent affordable housing” site, has been approved.

In an application recommended for approval at the September Pembrokeshire County council planning committee meeting, Ateb Group Ltd sought permission for a discharge of two Section 106 legal agreements for a previously approved 2012 scheme on land east of the Cricket Club, Pembroke Road, Pembroke Dock.

Outline permission was granted back in 2014, for the approved scheme of 100 residential units, made up of 44 two-bed houses, 24 one-bed flats, two four-bed disabled bungalow, six three-bed houses, eight one-bed bungalows, four four-bed houses, and 12 two-bed bungalows.

Works started in 2022, and it is anticipated that the development will be finalised towards the end of this year, with 60 per cent of the housing currently occupied, a report for members stated.

There are two Section 106 legal agreements relating to the 2014 permission: 20 per cent provision of on-site affordable housing and a financial contribution towards highway infrastructure, education infrastructure, lifelong learning and youth centre facilities.

The applicants sought to discharge the affordable housing contribution, as the site is being developed for 100 per cent affordable housing on behalf of Registered Social Landlord, and also to remove the requirement for the provision of financial contributions to education infrastructure, community learning and youth centre facilities and that the highways financial contribution be replaced by a requirement for necessary infrastructure to be provided prior to occupation of the final 20 per cent of the housing.

The report, agreeing with the affordable housing contribution request, added a valuation assessment “concludes that, even without the provision of financial contributions for associated infrastructure, the development would have a negative [value] of minus £289,471”.

The council’s highways department had objected to the proposal to discharge that particular agreement, as an infrastructure contribution is still justified in that, as currently configured, the site does not provide safe pedestrian access to the existing highway (pavement) network.

It was recommended that the existing affordable housing Section 106 agreement be discharged as the site is being developed for 100 per cent affordable housing, and the financial contributions to education infrastructure, community learning and youth centre facilities be removed, and the highways financial contribution be replaced by a requirement for necessary infrastructure to be provided prior to occupation of the final 20 per cent of the housing.

The recommendation, moved by Cllr Brian Hall, was backed by 12 members of the committee, with two voting against.