Waltham Forest Council has approved 48 new houses on council land but – not one will be affordable.

The authority’s Conservatives have criticised council leader, Cllr Clare Coghill, for going back on a promise made to voters during the local election campaign.

At a pre-election hustings in April organised by Citizens UK, Cllr Coghill pledged that all developments in Waltham Forest would have at least 35 per cent affordable housing, with the aim for the council’s entire portfolio to contain 50 per cent affordable housing in the next four years.

But at a planning committee on June 12, Labour members approved a development on council owned land at 92 Leyton Green Road, which will create 22 three-storey houses and not one will be affordable.

The Labour members also approved redevelopment of 220 Wood Street, a mixed use development, comprising of 26 residential units. Again, none of which will provide affordable housing.

According to Waltham Forest Conservatives, the Labour group “did something similar” on the Legal and General site in Ferry Lane on May 1.

Cllr Alan Siggers, leader of Waltham Forest Conservatives, said: “It is remarkable that in just over a month since the election, Clare Coghill and Waltham Forest Labour have reneged on such important pledges.

“Affordable housing really matters to the people of the borough and this Labour council have just missed three good opportunities to increase the number of truly affordable houses. And this is despite the committee members being reminded of their leader’s pledges.

“It does not bode well for the next four years that Waltham Forest Labour are already breaking their election promises to the people of the borough. I worry what other promises may yet be broken too.”

Cllr Simon Miller, cabinet member for economic growth and high streets, said: “The redevelopment of the Summerfield Centre will deliver a new specialist respite and therapy centre, with a unit for residential care. The current building is outdated and must be upgraded to continue to provide the specialist care that will support vulnerable residents in making the most of their life chances.

“This essential work is entirely reliant on the surplus generated by sales of the housing to be built on the Leyton Green site, anticipated to be around £5.3m under the current proposals.

“Social care budgets have been dramatically reduced under this government. It is patently unfair that local authorities must choose between using their assets to deliver genuinely affordable housing or provide care for vulnerable members of our community, as we have been forced to in this instance.

“We are responsibly managing our property portfolio and aim to secure 50 per cent affordable homes across council-owned sites as well as delivering essential social and community infrastructure. The council has to balance public benefits against viability in each case whilst seeking to maximise affordable housing wherever possible.

“In this instance, the respite centre replacement delivers essential social and community facilities and infrastructure as a priority public benefit for the local area.”