Put the flags out! Fred Done and his company, Salboy, are actually going to be providing some affordable housing in Salford, according to a planning application submitted last week for 115 apartments in a 17 storey block in Greengate.
The site, currently occupied by a two storey building and car park, lies within a 'high value' area, which, according to Salford City Council's new 'refreshed' planning policy, means that the company will have to deliver 20% affordable housing, of which 75% should be for social/affordable rent; and 25% for 'intermediate' housing.
Salboy's planning statement explains that... "In accordance with the 'refreshed' version of SCC's Planning Obligations SPD which came into force on 9 December 2019, the proposals will also make provision for 10% affordable housing as part of the scheme (25 no. units)." (Whoever is Salboy's number cruncher obviously cannot add up as 25 units is the equivalent of nearer 20% affordable housing).
Done is also coughing up for 'Open Space and Green Infrastructure'... "As required by the Council's adopted 'Planning Obligations' SPD, a financial contribution towards open space will also be provided, which it is understood SCC will use for public realm works within the Greengate area" the planning application sighs.
While it doesn't state any amounts of planning obligations money, it's all an advance on Fred Done's previous apartment schemes in the city, 'Local Blackfriars' and 'Local Crescent'.
At the 'Local Blackfriars' development, Done's company should have been paying £1.28million in Section 106 planning fees and contributions but this was waived due to 'viability' issues ie that his profit wouldn't be high enough. Done should also have been providing 20%, or 76, affordable units in the development but, again, this was avoided.
Later that year, Done went cap in hand to the Greater Manchester Housing Fund and nabbed a £17.3million cheap loan for the Blackfriars scheme, followed by a further cheap loan of £5.2million, underwritten by the council tax payers of Salford and the other Greater Manchester authorities. And then, after public subsidies of £22.5million, it was revealed that the 380 flats were being marketed to rich Hong Kong investors by 'global real estate enterprise', Colliers International, acting for Salboy (for a full background see previous Salford Star article and follow the links – click here).
Meanwhile, Done's 'Local Crescent' development is being built on top of the locally listed and demolished Black Horse pub with no affordable housing, nor an estimated planning obligations contribution of £1,932,000 which was waived due to 'viability' (see previous Salford Star article for a full background – click here).
25 affordable units seems a small price for Done to pay considering what one of the wealthiest men in the country has got off with in the recent past...
Update: 17th January - see also Guardian news story 'Betfred owners make millions from company treating gambling addicts' - click here
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