Decision details
Interim Affordable Housing Policy
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Decisions:
The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director for Place outlining the proposed Interim Affordable Housing Policy.
Recommended:
1. That the “Interim Affordable Housing Policy (September 2016)” document attached at Appendix 2 to the submitted report, be approved as Corporate Policy.
2. That the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Public Protection, be authorised to make any minor amendments to the Interim Affordable Housing Policy to take into account the latest available evidence from the Strategic Housing Market Assessment or its equivalent successor.
Reason for Decision
1. To maximise the potential to deliver affordable housing and meet the Borough’s local affordable housing need through existing planning policy, planning applications and Section 106 agreements, whilst ensuring development remains deliverable.
2. To ensure that a fair and consistent affordable housing provision is required of all developers, avoiding any site being disadvantaged in comparison to any other due to the impact changes in tenure and unit sizes have on residential sales values.
3. To assist in meeting the key Corporate Priorities relating to affordable housing as set out in paragraph 6.1 to the report.
Other Options
Not to adopt the Interim Affordable Housing Policy as set out in the report. This would mean to continue developer affordable housing negotiations relating to housing mix, tenure and financial contributions in lieu of on-site provision on a more ad hoc basis. This presents significant risks in terms of the Council’s ability to meet the Borough’s affordable housing needs, may result in inconsistencies in planning negotiations and may also delay delivery of development.
This is a Council Function
Called-in to Place Scrutiny Committee
Executive Councillor – Flewitt
Publication date: 29/09/2016
Date of decision: 20/09/2016
Decided at meeting: 20/09/2016 - Cabinet
Effective from: 01/10/2016
Accompanying Documents: