Sutton is facing a major shortage of affordable housing it emerged at planning enquiry.
The comments were made by Sutton South councillor Richard Clifton at the public enquiry into the latest planning application for Sutherland House on Wednesday, July 17.
Councillor Richard Clifton
He called on the Planning Inspectorate to ensure that at least some of the 160 luxury flats included in plans be "affordable homes" for people in real need.
He gave the enquiry examples from his casework of people living in cramped conditions – including one case where parents, grown up children and their children were all living in a two bedroom flat.
Picture by Philip Atkinson
He said: "These flats, close to Sutton station, will be worth a bomb.
“I cannot believe that the economics of this project make it impossible to provide some affordable homes without the developer still making sufficient profit to make the conversion worthwhile.
"Sutherland House is an eyesore. It is overdue for re-development. But the developers could make this one change, providing some affordable housing, to help the local community."
The Council, following an independent study, suggests that up to ten of the flats could be affordable homes without an unacceptable impact on the economics of the project.
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