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Homes common sense
• WHEN Ken Livingstone as London mayor lowered the threshold for inclusion of affordable housing to an absurdly low level, he effectively “killed the goose that laid the golden egg” (Housing target to be scrapped, September 17).
Under his rules, if a development has more than nine flats, half must be affordable.
Normally the private and affordable units are served by separate entrances, staircases and lifts, but this is uneconomical in cost and space terms within such a small block. Housing associations decline involvement in such small “split” developments and some have told me that they would not be interested in any split development of less than 30 flats.
I was surprised and pleased to read that Camden may be about to remedy Mr Livingstone’s mistake, and I strongly support the proposed return of some badly needed common sense to the planning rules.
EAMON O'SULLIVAN
Architect, Burghley Road, NW5
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