DEVELOPERS have said much-needed bungalows being built on a former steelworks site may not be available to rent by older people because of the ‘inflexibility’ of council planners.

Project Genesis, which is redeveloping the land, has permission for 30 two-bedroomed bungalows as part of a 400-home Regents Park scheme behind the Tesco store in Consett.

The firm varied the conditions to make them available for sale because of a lack of interest from social landlords.

But now Karbon Homes has got involved and agreed to offer 25 of the properties for rent.

Durham County Council has said the subsequent adoption of the County Durham Plan, which concludes there is already enough rented accommodation in the town, means they cannot go back to being leased.

It is understood there are over 150 older people on the waiting list to rent a bungalow in Consett.

John O’Connor, chairman of the Genesis Trust, said: “This is a perverse application of the policy which is actually designed to stop builders and developers avoiding the provision of affordable rent homes, because generally there is not enough profit in it for house builders.

“By the county council applying the policy in this way to the proposal all it does is limit the supply of much-needed affordable rent bungalows for older people in Consett.

“This appears to be a perverse situation and the ‘computer says no’ mentality is one which just disadvantages ordinary people.

“Project Genesis has approached the leader of the council and the portfolio holder to see if common sense could prevail.

“Unfortunately, despite our repeated attempts to discuss the issue we have had no response or consideration of our proposal.”

Geoff Paul, Durham County Council’s head of development and housing, said the authority was ‘committed to delivering affordable homes across the county’.

He said: “In this instance, as part of the planning process, the developer has given a legal commitment to provide 30 affordable bungalows for local people as part of the development.

“We have made it clear to the developer that it can change of tenure for the 30 bungalows, however if a grant from Homes England is now required then the legal section 106 agreement would need to be modified.

“This can only be considered if the developer provides information to us to show that financially the development is no longer able to pay for the bungalows.

“We have requested, without success, this information in order that the matter can be properly considered.

“We will continue to work with Project Genesis on this development and are happy to review the legal agreement providing the relevant financial information is made available as required.”