TONY CONROY (Letters, June 25) refers to the Staynor Hall development in Selby and the Station Road development in Riccall.

The affordable housing element in these two developments was agreed at 20 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. These figures were agreed following local housing needs surveys carried out by the developers. Sales of private dwellings on both sites have been remarkably buoyant.

However the overall picture is not all sweetness and light. The core strategy being promoted before an independent inspector provides for affordable dwellings at a rate of 40 per cent, despite evidence that affordable dwellings at this level are unrealistic.

Even more worrying is Selby District Council’s attitude to small-scale developments. Policy H2A (which was being used to prevent development on greenfield sites) fell away following the implementation of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Certain developments that were approved by the planning committee early this year without any requirement for affordable dwellings have now been re-examined and some applicants are now being told that unless they agree to either an on-site provision of affordable dwellings or a contribution in lieu, that their applications will be refused.

One York based developer recently told me that a result of these actions by Selby District Council, he is no longer prepared to look at sites in the district.

Messrs Laverack, Reeves and Cordock are to be commended for their constant highlighting of the situation in York. You will appreciate from the above that York is not alone in a blinkered attitude towards affordable dwellings.

Coun Ian Reynolds, Conservative Riccall with Escrick.