Local housing associations have declined to take on 17 ‘affordable’ homes at a Crossways housing scheme.

Some said the development was too small, others said they were not interested in further homes for rent in area, while others did not want to take on one-bed flats. The affordable homes agreed are 10 one-bed flats and 7 three-bed homes. 12 of the total of these homes would have been for affordable rent with the remainder classed as intermediate shared ownership.

The lack of interest has resulted in a change to the legal agreement for the site with the 17 homes to now be classified as “discounted market” units, which will mean they will be offered at 20 per cent less than the market rate – but only to those on the Dorset Council housing waiting list.

Dorset Council’s area planning committee were told on Thursday that the 20 per cent discount on market value would apply in perpetuity.

The homes are part of a development which already has permission for 49 homes and 8 commercial units on a site next to Oaklands Park off the Warmwell Road.

Developers Allenby Homes said that tried, but failed, over a period of 6-7 months, to get any housing provider interested in taking on the 17 ‘affordable’ homes on the site and suggested the ‘market discount’ proposal as an alternative – a category which still complies with national planning policy for affordable homes.

Weymouth councillor Pete Barrow told the area planning committee, which agreed the change, that even with a 20 per cent discount the homes were still likely to be unaffordable to many local people.

Crossways parish council had been consulted on the proposed change but had not commented on it.