Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

70
Growth
8.61 Three of the Growth Areas designated by the Government lie wholly or partly in the East of
England. In reality, this has merely added planned growth to the massive growth occurring across
almost the whole region as a consequence of economic and demographic pressures.
8.62 Most of this growth will be in the form of housing provided by the market for direct purchase and
owner occupation; and a substantial proportion will be accommodating households migrating into
or within the Region. It is anticipated that relatively few migrants will be seeking social rented
housing, although there should be more demand from the intermediate market.
8.63 The East of England Plan sets out the spatial distribution of new housing to accommodate growth.
A substantial proportion of affordable housing will be required as part of this new housing growth,
as per policy in the East of England Plan. Although this suggests a large volume of capital subsidy
to support this volume of affordable housing, the proposed policy with regard to planning
obligations should lead to relatively less subsidy required from the SRHP.
8.64 On this basis, the long-term target level for funding under the growth theme is set at 25%. In the
short-term, it is set even lower, reflecting the expected delay in major planned growth
developments coming through the pipeline
8.65 Affordable housing under the growth agenda is essentially aiming to accommodate need that is
not generated from within the locality. It is also to be generally concentrated in strategically
selected locations in specific local authority areas. In practice this will mean that a scheme coded
‘growth’ will be expected to demonstrate that future occupants will be coming from a larger area
than the local authority which hosts the scheme. This can be either through inter-authority
nomination agreements and/or evidence that there is in-migration of households into the area of
allocation i.e. the local authority who need affordable housing.
8.66 The geographical distribution of investment under the growth theme should be tied
directly with the phased development of strategic housing schemes in accordance with
the East of England Plan.
Local need and homelessness
8.67 Local need is defined as need arising within the existing population of an area. It includes the
enhanced need for affordable housing generated by house prices increases, as a consequence of
unsatisfied demand from external growth pressures. The reason for this strategically is that it can
be addressed directly by the respective housing authority, and does not require the cross-boundary
cooperation inherent in the growth theme. This does not preclude the development of cross
boundary working and good practice.
8.68 Rather than being addressed separately, as sometimes in the past, homelessness is included in this
theme, partly because it is part of local need, and partly because, in order to enhance their
sustainability, investment should never be in housing schemes wholly dedicated to homeless
households.
8.69 The primary means to deal with homelessness in the Region is through the range of measures able
to prevent households becoming homeless through homelessness prevention strategies. This is
particularly relevant for vulnerable people leaving institutions. Secondly, lettings should be
managed to accommodate homeless households in well-functioning communities, whilst also
helping to achieve mixed communities.