A company set up by Norfolk County Council to get new homes built on its land has handed County Hall a £1m dividend.
Council leaders welcomed the boost to the authority's coffers from the success of Repton Property Developments, but critics continue to have concerns about the way the company operates.
Repton was set up in 2017 so council-owned land and buildings could be developed for housing, generating financial returns to ease pressures on the council's finances.
The council has worked with developers to get homes built in places such as St Edmund's Park in Acle, The Old School Yard in Hunstanton, Burton Cove in Caister-on-Sea, Bowlers Green in Hopton-on-Sea and Saxon Heath in Attleborough.
Jane James, cabinet member for innovation and corporate service at Conservative-controlled County Hall, said: "We are proud of what we’ve achieved in a relatively short time.
"Our lean operating model has allowed us to focus on quality, sustainability and financial returns.
"This success has come in the face of significant economic turbulence including the Covid-19 pandemic, inflationary pressures and the significant disruption to supply chains.
"We look forward to building on this success as we continue to develop sites across the county."
READ MORE: New homes bid for council land at Acle and Hopton-on-Sea
However, there have been questions asked about whether the company is prioritising profit over the sort of homes people need.
A proposal for 20 homes at Sedgeford Primary School recently attracted controversy, because it does not include any affordable housing.
Brian Watkins, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group at County Hall, said: "Clearly, the council will welcome the £1m dividend, and Repton can also point to some notable successes with the projects it has undertaken.
"However, I am concerned about the tendency to prioritise market-rate housing, particularly in areas of higher costs.
"The council, through Repton, needs to do more to fully understand the needs of local communities across Norfolk, many of whom desperately require more affordable housing for people."
And Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group, said: "Repton should be building homes local people can afford to live in, rather than a cash cow.
"Another council wholly-owned company operating behind closed doors demands a degree of scepticism.
"There should be much more transparency about the county council selling land to Repton.
"The council financing borrowing so a company the council owns can buy land from the council isn't exactly transparent."
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