Affordable Housing SPD

Object

Representation ID: 71635

Received: 17/02/2020

Respondent: William Davis Ltd

In discussing tenure, the draft document only makes mention of social rented, affordable rented and shared ownership tenures, and ignores other intermediate tenures that are included in the definition of affordable housing in Annex2 of the NPPF (February 2019). This includes, discounted market sales, and ‘other affordable routes to home ownership’ (equity loans, other low-cost homes for sale and rent to buy), and Starter Homes. This is strictly contrary to the approach set out in Policy H2 of the Local Plan, to which the SPD relates, which states at point e): “The affordable housing will meet the definition of affordable housing set out in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in terms of tenure, eligibility and provider. If the NPPF is replaced by later national guidance while this policy H2 remains in force then, at the time of consideration of a planning application, the definition of affordable housing shall be taken to be as defined in such later national guidance” (my underlining). Therefore, even though these other tenures were not quoted at the time the Local Plan was adopted the new NPPF definitions are recognised as being relevant to all current planning applications, by virtue of this policy wording. The SPD should therefore provide updated guidance on these tenures to assist negotiations on current and future planning applications.