I REFER to Mr Knowles’ letter (Warrington Guardian, February 8) and agree when he says that future generations should be able to live in ‘decent homes regardless of their social and financial status’ and am fully in favour of more houses being built (though not quite on the scale proposed in the PDO) and that South Warrington should provide its share.

The lack of housing has caused prices to soar.

My own family has experienced the difficulty of finding an affordable home.

Affordability is the key.

Although there is a definition of affordable housing within the rented market, the definition in the homes to buy market is less clear.

It is left to the judgement of the planners and local authorities to determine.

A developer is required to have a percentage of affordable housing but any so-called affordable housing in south Warrington is likely to be out of the reach of many young families given the relatively high cost of new houses in the area when the national average annual income is a little more than £29,000.

I do not believe that the two housing developments which have already received planning permission in south Warrington, Appleton Cross and Grappenhall Heys, will provide homes at a price that young people can afford.

I am also concerned by the phrase ‘what I would describe as marginal green belt’ which Mr Knowles uses in his letter.

When the green belt was brought in to prevent urban sprawl, I’m sure the politicians did not intend any of it to be considered ‘marginal’.

If we set a precedent that some green belt is marginal, does it mean that when more houses need to be built a further area can be deemed marginal?

This surely destroys the whole idea of the green belt itself.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED