WEST Somerset Council has unanimously backed bids of more than £600,000 for two housing schemes in Bridgwater after confirmation that the homes built would remain 'affordable' for 30 years rather than ten.

The district council holds the purse strings to the multi-million pound pot of cash paid by EDF Energy – the developer behind the proposed Hinkley C new nuclear power station – to offset the impact of the project on local private rented and low cost housing in both West Somerset and Sedgemoor.

The council's cabinet initially refused to support the bids for just over £302,000 each to build homes on the former Paragon Laundry site and in Monmouth Street in Bridgwater.

They raised concerns that the developments – set to deliver a total of 235 bed spaces – would revert to open market housing after ten years.

And they also questioned the "considerable profit element" to the private developer, LV Property Rentals.

But earlier this month, cabinet members recommended both schemes for approval and last Wednesday their recommendation was accepted by the full council.

Assistant director energy infrastructure Andrew Goodchild said additional information had been forthcoming since the cabinet first considered the schemes in March.

He said there were a number of key points, including clarity over the viability and a recognition that the price paid for the land and the profit levels to be derived by LV Property Rentals were not unreasonable.

But Mr Goodchild said of particular note was confirmation that the rental arrangements for the units on both schemes would be on an affordable basis – capped at 80 per cent of the prevailing market rent – for ten years and then for a further 20 years capped at the 'local housing allowance, meaning they would be below the prevailing market rent for a comparable property.

So he said the homes would effectively be affordable for a total of 30 years.

Lead member for housing, health and wellbeing Cllr Keith Turner told the council that no-one had done a 'U-turn'.

"We listened to the information and we changed our minds," he said.

Cllr Peter Murphy said the important thing was that the two schemes were progressed.

"There is a housing problem emerging, particularly in Bridgwater close to the construction site [of Hinkley C].

"I think it is clear that this will deliver 30 years of affordable housing."

And Cllr Chris Morgan reminded councillors that in the last three or four years, around £800,000 had been handed to Sedgemoor for housing.

"Whether Hinkley C goes ahead or not, West Somerset and Sedgemoor have been given opportunities they would never have had without it," he said.