AFFORDABLE housing is probably Oxfordshire’s most important issue, so it comes as a surprise to find that Mace seem to be trying to reduce their obligations when it comes to the West Way redevelopment.

Their planning statement says that it should be read in conjunction with their “Affordable Housing Viability Statement”, but that is apparently “Commercial in Confidence” so we, the public, can’t see it.

What the planning statement does say is that: “There is a clear risk in this case that if an unviable level of affordable housing is sought then this will prevent this development from coming forward.

“The viability of the development is finely balanced having regard to the mix of uses and policy requirements and therefore it should not be unnecessarily burdened, which will in turn prevent the redevelopment of this underutilised brownfield site.”

Many developers try to get out of affordable housing obligations using the recession as an excuse, but we’re supposed to be out of recession and house prices are rising fast. This is not a patch of land that Mace bought and has lost value, but a shopping centre largely owned by the very district council who apparently want it developed.

And if the viability of the development is really on such a knife edge then one wonders whether we should really let Mace go ahead. What other corners will they cut? With ‘high street retail’ suffering under the strain of internet shopping, will they be able to rent out the ‘retail units’ or even finish the development?

When Mace took over Doric, two years ago, they asked to be judged on the delightful Ashmolean, and Weston Library. They now risk being judged on an unaffordable white elephant in Botley.

GORDON STOKES

The Glebe, Cumnor