A MOVE to include more flats at affordable rents in a new scheme which is taking shape has been welcomed by councillors.

Hyde Housing is building just over a hundred homes on the site of the Westerman Complex, in School Road, Hove, where generations of children went to Westows soft play centre.

Hyde applied to Brighton and Hove City Council for planning permission for a different mix of homes to the one originally approved.

The result is more homes will be available to rent for an “affordable” amount and fewer will be in shared ownership.

The planning committee unanimously backed the proposed changes this week.

Hyde, one of the main housing associations operating in Brighton and Hove, wants to increase the number of one-bed homes from seven to 14 – all for affordable rent.

Ten two-bedroom homes can also be made available for affordable rent along with a three-bedroom property.

The Argus: The housing development is set to include more affordable homesThe housing development is set to include more affordable homes

Conservative councillor Carol Theobald said: “I’m very pleased that we’re going to have another 104 new homes. I hope the ones that are not ‘affordable’ are still affordable to people.”

Labour councillor Carmen Appich said: “This is right next to the boundary of my ward and I’m very pleased there’s going to be an opportunity for local people to be able to rent property at affordable rates.

“It’s not the same as social housing but it is better than open market and I thoroughly welcome this proposal.”

All the homes in the scheme are classed as “affordable”, with 16 of them available for shared ownership on a site that also previously housed Cliffords car parts premises.

“Affordable” rents are defined as no more than the local housing allowance or 80 per cent of the local market rate for a comparable property.