Appendix - North Kesteven District Council

D Strategic Priorities
On the basis of the consultation the Council decided to pursue the six suggested priorities. These are now
discussed in more detail below in relation to how the services are delivered.
In Appendix A the priorities are listed together with the Action Plan for service improvement.
All the priorities are considered important in terms of meeting housing needs in the District and as such they have
not been ranked. All with the exception of the Homelessness Priority relate to the Council’s corporate priority to
deliver affordable housing and provide decent homes for vulnerable people.
Appendix D provides a description of the main options that relate to each of the priorities and other options that
were considered in developing the Strategy. The actions were considered through the development of individual
policies and also as part of this strategy. Decisions on the options chosen for inclusion in this Strategy were made
by members of the Council. The risks identified represent the risks to the success of the priority areas of not
pursuing the favoured option.
Affordable Housing
An interim policy statement
In order to increase the number of affordable housing a supplementary planning document will be produced to
explore in more detail the policies that can be applied to promote the supply of affordable housing (this is proposed
in the Local Development Scheme). In the meantime the Council have adopted a policy statement, the basis of
which is as follows:
• 35% of properties on all new development sites over five properties in size to be affordable. Developers would
be expected to work with local Registered Social Landlords to enable the housing to be developed.
• If developers believe this will undermine the economic viability of a site they must submit a valuation which
demonstrates this. Variations to the policy will only be made when a strongly evidenced case can be made.
• Whilst the Council would be happy to see the provision of shared ownership schemes close attention will be given
to its pricing taking into patterns of housing need and ensuring that the home remains affordable in perpetuity.
The interim policy will be based on the principle of ensuring affordable housing in perpetuity. It is likely that a large
part of the affordable housing to be developed will be provided through shared ownership but in deciding on the
appropriate mix of affordable properties on the site regard will be given to the finding of the housing needs study
on affordability.
The Council is also mindful of the need to link new development to the sustainability of communities. The policy
therefore will therefore allow infrastructure/community facilities to be taken into account where a proven need
exists. This could impact on the number of properties and the size of the affordable housing contribution that
developers will be required to provide.
Rural Exceptions Sites
The Housing Needs survey demonstrated that the demand for affordable housing is widespread across the District
and arises within rural communities as well as urban areas. This has given rise to an initiative to work with local
councils to develop local needs surveys which justify the use of rural exception sites. Rural exceptions sites allow
the development of new affordable housing in communities when such development would normally be contrary to
planning policies. The affordable housing would be allocated to people from the community where development
has taken place.
Pilot surveys involving Council’s in the north west of the District will commence in 2005.
27 Housing Strategy 2005 - 2008