I read the letter (August 1) from Rev John Webster about the proposal to build affordable housing on a greenfield site and thought his a noble a attitude.

It is true the Sussex Overseas Housing Society is registered as a charitable organisation but its interest appears to be in providing homes for students, not key workers or disabled people.

What does the term "Overseas" mean in its title? Are we simply talking about overseas students?

I agree something needs to be done about the Brighton and Hove homeless but I do not agree that Sussex Overseas Housing or Braybon Holdings are concerned about this.

They are interested in money and depriving the community in Westdene of their recreational space.

The constitution of Sussex Overseas Housing clearly states its aim is to provide homes "for overseas and a small number of British students".

This organisation hardly has an excellent record in providing housing for those in need, unless six tenancies qualifies for use of the term "excellent".

This extremely small portfolio hardly qualifies it to oversee a development containing 112 houses?

It does not even have a proper office but relies on an address at the church.

Rev Webster's statement that most of the residents would be disabled is incorrect.

Of the 112 homes, only 14 would be for disabled use as recorded in the planning application.

I agree that residents certainly would need motor vehicles because the public transport is infrequent and doctors' surgeries and schools have no vacancies.

New residents would have to travel miles for such basic essentials.

If you ask Brighton and Hove City Council what it is doing about the homeless in the area you will discover, as detailed in the local plan, that a considerable amount of work is in hand to meet the ever increasing housing demand.

The council has stated it is not necessary to utilise greenfield land because sufficient brownfield land exists.

Is it not a better policy to use existing land where derelict and unoccupied buildings exist?

If we do not, we will simply have vast sites around the city centre left empty and barren. Far better to redevelop such sites.

Rev Webster, I do not think the Lord's hand is at work here but the Devil's might be.

-Michael Whitty, Chairman Westdene and Withdean Community Association