A COUNCILLOR has appealed to authority bosses to take action to force developers to build more affordable homes, saying it must not be seen as a "soft touch".

Cllr Martin Tod's proposal considered by Winchester City councillors was to address developers who do not meeting the council's rules for 40 per cent affordable housing in their schemes.

But the council only agreed to parts of it and its own report said the steps it had agreed to take would be unlikely to make any material difference to the numbers of affordable homes.

Cllr Tod's motion states developers "are increasingly challenging social and affordable housing contributions on the grounds of viability" - that the scheme would not be financially viable with that much affordable housing.

Among Cllr Tod's suggestions was making viability assessments public and reviewed by an independent expert.

Leader Cllr Stephen Godfrey said some of the proposals the council was already doing, but others could prove legally difficult.

However, he said the council did support greater openness.

Cabinet proposed, and was supported by full council, to put viability assessments on the public planning register unless there were exceptional circumstances not to.

Cllr Todd said it was a "step in the right direction", but said other authorities had taken a "tougher line", adding "it's essential that we're not seen as a soft touch".

Conservative Cllr Ian Tait said he shared these concerns and pointed to the 3,500 home North Whiteley development as an example.

Cllr Godfrey told how councils had to act under national planning policy guidelines.