Agenda item

The Portfolio Holder for Growth and Prosperity to submit a report to:

 

a)    Seek approval to adopt the Housing Mix and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) will provide guidance on how the Melton Local Plan (2011 – 2036) policies C2; C4; C5 (and partially SS3) should be interpreted.

 

b)    To advise an SPD does not have development plan status but can be a material consideration in planning decisions.

 

c)    To advise that the SPD will assist in managing development of affordable housing and the housing mix on major residential sites.

 

d)    To advise that a consultation was carried out on the draft SPD for a 6 week period with all relevant stakeholders and members of the public. The comments from the consultation have been considered in finalising the document.

1)    Cabinet APPROVED the consultation statement set out at Appendix 1.

 

2)    Cabinet APPROVED the Housing Mix and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document comprised at Appendix 2 and it’s accompanying appendices (Appendix 3) for adoption be approved, subject to the insertion of the additional para. 3.1.7 as detailed above

 

3)    Cabinet DELEGATED authority to the Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make any minor amendments to the wording of the Supplementary Planning Document.

 

Councillor Leigh Higgins, the Portfolio Holder for Growth and Prosperity introduced the report with the purpose to seek approval from Members to adopt the Housing Mix and Affordable Housing Supplement Planning Document (SPD).

 

During discussion, the following points were noted;

 

The SPD will be a material consideration in planning decisions assisting with managing the mix of affordable housing and the housing mix on major residential sites.

 

It is essential that applicants clearly demonstrate early in the pre-application process how affordable housing will be integrated into a scheme and how their negotiations with land owners or site promoters (if different to the applicant) have factored in fully policy compliant affordable housing to the agreed land price or option.

 

The Local Plan allows, in some circumstances, an element of market housing on rural exception sites, to cross subsidise the affordable housing.  Therefore, proposals for cross-subsidy schemes will normally be expected to submit an Economic Viability Assessment (EVA) with a planning application to provide justification for the ratio of market and affordable housing proposed

 

Occupancy conditions will apply to affordable housing for rent and affordable home ownership in the rural areas of the Borough. Each affordable housing scheme in a rural area will have individual local connection criteria secured by way of a s.106 agreement. 

 

A balanced range of dwelling sizes and types will be required on a residential development of market housing, affordable housing or where both are present.  This is to create balanced, mixed and sustainable communities.

 

There will be a strong presumption in favour of on-site provision of affordable housing (in accordance with para. 62 of the NPPF, 2019).  However, the SPD explains when there may be some circumstances in which an off-site contribution may be accepted and how these will be calculated..

 

The Council recognises that it will need to monitor changes in values and costs as they affect viability and this information will be used to assess if and/or when the SPD needs to be reviewed.

 

Though a consultation was sent out, only 15 responses were received, mainly on behalf of developers; planning agents and consultants; a senior commissioner at the County Council; a Councillor and a Parish Councillor. These are included as summaries in Appendix 1. This is a disappointing return and needs to be addressed to be promoted more.

 

 

Councillor Higgins proposed an additional bullet point be added to Appendix 2 (Page 94) as 3.1.7 to read as follows:

 

Similar to 3.1.6 above, the Council will similarly adopt a flexible approach to affordable housing tenures and mixes where justified by other material considerations. For example, where considerations are present such as the prospect of accelerated delivery or an enhanced quality of the overall scheme, revised tenure mixes or housing mix will be considered.

 

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Orson and approved by Cabinet.

 

DECISIONS (KEY)

 

1)    Cabinet APPROVED the consultation statement set out at Appendix 1.

 

2)    Cabinet APPROVED the Housing Mix and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document comprised at Appendix 2 and it’s accompanying appendices (Appendix 3) for adoption be approved, subject to the insertion of the additional para. 3.1.7 as detailed above

 

3)    Cabinet DELEGATED authority to the Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make any minor amendments to the wording of the Supplementary Planning Document.

 

Reasons:-

 

The SPD, as a guidance document to the policies in the Local Plan, will assist with implementing the key strategic issues relating to housing mix and affordable housing (set out in paragraphs 4.2 and 4.3) for Melton Borough.

 

The Borough’s population is ageing and so we need to have the right type of housing in place to accommodate households’ changing needs.

 

The Borough’s current housing offer is unaffordable to some households, especially for younger people.  A range of different types; sizes and tenure of housing will assist in alleviating this issue.