RESIDENTS trying to get a foothold on the housing ladder in Aldeburgh received a major setback yesterday after it was revealed plans for 18 affordable homes had been withdrawn.

Richard Smith

RESIDENTS trying to get a foothold on the housing ladder in Aldeburgh received a major setback yesterday after it was revealed plans for 18 affordable homes had been withdrawn.

Flagship Housing Group has decided it will not proceed with the scheme at the commercial Fairway laundry business at the rear of properties in Saxmundham Road.

This scheme was one of three proposed for Aldeburgh - the other two are earmarked for the police station site in Leiston Road and land next to Kemp's Field, but progress is slow and no cheap homes have been built.

Flagship submitted plans to Suffolk Coastal District Council a year ago for nine flats and nine houses but Doug Malins, the housing group's business development manager, said: “Flagship Housing Group has withdrawn its planning application as the site has been identified as a high flood risk.

''Increasing the height of the development to address this issue would reduce the number of homes built.

''With the restrictions being so severe, we think it would preclude us from making the development financially viable.

''There is an acute need for affordable housing in Aldeburgh so we are working in close partnership with Suffolk Coastal District Council to remedy this situation.

''We are looking at alternative sites and when progress has been made, we will report to the town council.”

Marianne Fellowes, a district councillor, told a meeting of Aldeburgh Town Council: ''It is very sad that we cannot do anything about this at this time and we will have to continue to push for affordable housing provision in Aldeburgh.''

Residents of Aldeburgh admit they are puzzled by the flooding risk when the chosen site in Saxmundham Road is already surrounded by houses.

Flagship Housing recently sold Elizabeth Court, a small home for the elderly in Aldeburgh, and said it wanted to reinvest the money raised in affordable homes.

The average house price in Aldeburgh in May was almost £320,000.