A FORMER city councillor has defended his new role with housing developers.

Ian Tait is working with a number of firms as they try to develop sites across the district.

Mr Tait was a Conservative city councillor from 1999 to the election in May when he lost his seat.

Throughout that time he took a keen interest in planning, serving on the committee for many years and was a supporter of social housing.

But now some planning campaigners have expressed concerns about Mr Tait’s new role.

Mr Tait told the Chronicle: “Over the last 20 years I have sat through more planning committees than anyone else and I think I have a reasonable understanding.”

He said in general he is not being paid for the advice he is giving to developers, although he is on a retainer for one firm, which he declined to name.

“It would be wrong to say I’m now a ‘planning consultant’. I have got personal issues with my mum, aged 91, in hospital so I don’t have the time at the moment.

“I have knocked on every door in Winchester, I know it better than estate agents. I know the human geography behind most sites. I’m advising developers to do public engagement to talk to neighbours.”

Mr Tait, of Bereweeke Road, said he is passionate about keeping Winchester a city of all classes.

“I would like to promote the delivery of affordable housing in Winchester. The city is becoming too middle class, pricing out the working class.

“I am a friend of good development and a friend of affordable housing. That is my interest. I think we should build a second Barton Farm; a city council scheme, primarily affordable housing. We all live in houses and we need more of them.”

Mr Tait said he harbours ambitions to return to the city council.