Bishopsgate Goodsyard row reignites on affordable homes

摘要

The mayor of Hackney has reignited a row with the developers behind the 1,356-home Bishopsgate Goodsyard development next to the City of London by claiming they have distorted their viability assessments of the site in order to provide just a third of the affordable homes actually feasible. Mayor Jules Pipe called the proposed level of 10% affordable housing "paltry", citing an independent assessment conducted by BNP Paribas Real Estate (BNPPRE) of the developers' viability report, which concludes that the scheme could include three times more affordable homes. The developers behind the scheme, Ballymore and Hammerson, have dismissed the criticism, maintaining the project is the right scheme for the site. Hackney council said the disparity between the different assessments of affordable housing were described as "extremely concerning" by BNPPRE, and said that it found 30% on-site affordable housing with a further £12m towards off-site provision would be viable.