ANGRY opponents to a controversial Peebles housing development are urging Scottish Borders Council not to let the developer wriggle out its obligation to provide 25 per cent of the build as affordable housing.

Local residents and councillors have raised countless objections to the build since it was proposed in 2013 - for 130 houses to be built on parts of Rosetta Caravan Park - and are now urging the council not to let Aberdeen Asset Management waive the affordable housing condition.

In a report submitted to SBC last week, Peebles Community Council stated: “The council remains very concerned about the possible relaxation of obligations to meet developer contribution a provision of 25 per cent affordable housing when the housing is not welcomed by the community or ourselves.

“Peebles is particularly in need of increased provision of affordable housing – so to accept the unwanted construction of many tens of houses, whilst forgoing all or part of the obligation to ensure that at least 25 per cent of housing constitutes affordable housing, makes a mockery of the policy.

“We thus urge planning officers not to agree to any relaxation of the condition and we are writing in similar vein to our SBC councillors.”

Aberdeen Asset Management has submitted a request to waive the affordable housing condition on the basis that it will incur them a £1m loss.

The company have also tried to bargain with the council, aruging that their construction of a bridge over the Cuddy, which will incur a six figure cost, and contributions towards the local schools, are adequate compromises for rejecting the affordable housing condition.

"It argues that the bridge is only viable if the elimination of on-site affordable housing is granted.

The community council's report concluded: “Scottish Borders Council gave planning permission in principle in April despite opposition from the community council, Peebles Civic Society and 400 residents who signed a petition.

“We have written a letter to the Developer Negotiation indicating our strong opposition to any weakening of the Affordable Housing condition, and given that the community is so strongly opposed, and that the development offers such limited benefit to the community, any application for variation to the conditions should be rejected.”

If SBC accept the proposal, the developers may only have to provide, for example, 10 per cent of their build as affordable housing, but community councillors urge them to look at the new Standalane Way development - which saw 100 applicants fighting for the 15 houses - as an example of how in demand affordable housing is.

Tweeddale Councillor Catriona Bhatia said: "The requirement for private developers to provide 25 per cent affordable housing is part of the Council's policy to try to ensure that there is sufficient housing of this type to meet the need.

“In fact, it only goes some way to meeting the need, particularly in Peebles where there are many more people on housing waiting lists than there are homes available.

“Scottish Borders Council can consider requests from developers to reduce or waive the requirement for affordable housing if there is financial justification.

"However in practice they have only done so twice in the past 10 years.”