BUILDERS will tell you that having to incorporate affordable housing in a development is akin to telling a mobile phone operator to give away one in every four contracts.

It rather puts into context a difficult issue; one that has just come to a head with City of York Council losing a challenge to overturn a decision made by a government planning inspector.

The official pronounced that developer Water Lane Ltd should not have to commit to building affordable homes at its site in Clifton, which may have far-reaching consequences for York, because the judgement was made in the High Court, and means it could set a precedent.

That is worrying. Adding affordable housing can make developments uneconomic, but since council housing was scrapped, this is the only way for some people to find a place to call home.

Now they could lose out in York’s building renaissance, because the council’s assertion that this case “was unique and will not create a precedent for future developments” may prove optimistic.

Because although spokesman Mike Slater says the key issues were about how much affordable housing and the timescale, it remains to be seen how many barristers will agree.

We see both sides of the argument, but it doesn’t alter the fact that housing provision for the less well off is a priority, especially in a city like York that has a chronic shortage.

And this case could make matters worse. Surely now is the time for all sides to get around the table and come up with a more flexible approach to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Because social housing is now almost entirely in private hands. And if it doesn’t yield a profit, it won’t be built.