COUNCILLORS have voiced concerns about whether a new £16m council housing scheme in Winchester is value for money.

Winchester City Council is set to submit a planning application for The Valley in Stanmore.

The scheme will consist of up to 76 new council homes; so far the council has held consultations with residents about the plan.

But councillors at a cabinet housing committee meeting expressed fears that the homes are not the right type for families in Winchester.

The scheme consists of 31 one-bedroom flats, 28 two-bedroom flats, three three-bedroom flats, 11 two-bedroom homes, two three-bedroom homes and one three-bedroom bungalow.

City councillor Ian Tait said: “In terms of viability we have got a cost of £16m – that’s £210,000 a dwelling, not including any land value. How robust is our system to determine that is value for money?

Council officer Richard Botham explained the high cost of the scheme is due to the sloping nature of the site, he also explained that people will often go for one to two-bedroom or one-bedroom properties as they are more affordable.

Councillor Tait then expressed fears that the scheme is simply not the right one for Winchester.

Cllr Tait said: “Family housing that’s what’s been lost from Stanmore and what we are building here is not family homes.

“This is not the housing that people want - this housing is expensive and £16m for 76 properties.

“Our build cost here is more expensive than the premium quality development in Sleepers Hill.

"This is not value for money.”

Councillor Eileen Berry said the scheme should have focused on bigger family homes.

Cllr Berry said: “I am all for more homes but I am more for family homes,.

"Why build one-bedroom flats when homes are needed for families?”

Welcoming the scheme for the area was councillor Jamie Scott who said there had been a loss of housing in Stanmore but this would give the area a lift.

He said people were keeping a close eye on potential parking issues.

The meeting heard how the rents would be set at 70 per cent of market value, and the scheme would also see the disposal of open space to make way for the development.