New 'energy efficient' £1.9m housing development approved for Wecock Farm

The homes, which will be built on a car park in Huntsman Close, will be used by both Portsmouth and Havant residents on the housing waiting list, including one family in need of a wheelchair accessible property.

Portsmouth City Council's housing boss Councillor Darren Sanders approved funding for the scheme, which could come partly from government grants or right to buy receipts.

Speaking at a housing decision meeting Jo Bennett, the council's head of business relationships, said: 'They will be built to a very high quality and as energy efficient as possible.'

However, some councillors had concerns that more detailed plans of the green element of the development were needed.

Labour spokesman for housing, Cllr Cal Corkery, said: 'I think the plans need to be more concrete to make sure they are as green as possible.'

Cllr Scott Payter-Harris, spokesman for the Tory party, added: 'I have no problem with the plan, it's sensible. I'm pleased to see housing for high priority needs. I just want to know how we are going to pay for it.

'It just worries me that we could be looking at costs rising.'

But Meredydd Hughes, assistant director of housing, said: 'That will be covered in the cost risk assessment we do.'

Officers explained that the sustainable elements of the scheme would be influenced by a council house development in Doyle Avenue which is due to start this year.

Cllr Sanders said: 'It's right we learn lessons from previous developments. Doyle Avenue is the first one we have done since we put ourselves in a climate emergency.'

Finance manager, Wayne Layton, added: 'The problem is we have is procedural. We need to come up with an estimated budget to change the capital programme. If something happened where the amount isn't enough we have got to come back to this committee and request further funds.

'We have got to progress with any project. In that budget will include some contingency, but we can't factor in every possibility.'

Last year there were 488 households, which include Havant and Portsmouth residents, on the Wecock Farm housing waiting list.