Issue - meetings

This report seeks Council approval of the updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and its adoption as a material planning consideration.

Recommendation

The Executive recommends to Full Council that the updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) be approved and adopted as a material planning consideration.

99.1    The Leader moved the recommendation to adopt the Affordable Housing SPD, which was duly seconded by Cllr Liz Townsend. Cllr Townsend went on to explain that the revised SPD had been updated in accordance with current legislation on First Homes; to revise the tenure split of affordable housing on sites to 60% social/affordable rents, 40% intermediate affordable (First Homes and Shared Ownership); and to clarify the rates for social and affordable rents.

99.2    Cllr Stephen Mulliner noted that there had been strong objections from developers regarding proposals on viability, and he hoped that the Council would be rigorous in pursuing the provisions of paragraphs 98 and 99 in seeking clawbacks where developments were more financially profitable than envisaged and affordable housing commitments had been reduced accordingly. Cllr Richard Seaborne noted the continuing tension between capping rents and the impact on rental income available for reinvestment in housing stock. He also noted that there was no set review date for the SPD, and felt that there should be a periodic review regardless of whether there had been changes to national policy; and that document control protocols should be improved.

99.3    There were no further speakers, and the Mayor put the recommendation to the vote, and the Council

RESOLVED that the updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) be approved and adopted as a material planning consideration.

The purpose of this report is to seek the Executive’s approval for the updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to be recommended to Full Council for formal adoption as a material planning consideration.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive recommends to Full Council that the updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document be adopted.

The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council that the updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document be adopted.

Reason: The SPD provides further guidance on the implementation of Local Plan Part 1 (LPP1) policies relevant to affordable housing and will become a material planning consideration. It will support a transparent and efficient planning process and will ensure consistent and fair decision-making.

[This matter is recommended to Council for decision.]

Cllr Liz Townsend, Portfolio Holder for Planning & Economic Development, presented this item. Local Plan Part 1 required the council to have an Affordable Housing SPD, which would be a material consideration when considering planning applications. The SPD included details of how financial contributions from developers would be calculated, the type and size of affordable housing required across the borough and the mechanisms to be applied if developers challenged the council’s affordability policy on viability grounds. The original SPD was published in April 2021 and an update was now required to take account of changes in national policy, including the requirement for ‘First Homes’, and to reflect Waverley administration’s commitment to affordable rents.

The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council that the updated Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document be adopted.

Reason: The SPD provides further guidance on the implementation of Local Plan Part 1 (LPP1) policies relevant to affordable housing and will become a material planning consideration. It will support a transparent and efficient planning process and will ensure consistent and fair decision-making.