One Blackfriars - Planning Statement FINAL VERSION - Southwark ...

CBRE | ST GEORGE SOUTH LONDON LTD8.0 Planning Policy Assessment8.115 A Financial Viability Appraisal of the Proposed Development has been prepared bySavills Affordable Housing consultants. This demonstrates that it is not financiallyviable to accommodate affordable housing on site. The Appraisal has beensubmitted separately as a confidential document due to the financial informationcontained within it being commercially sensitive.8.116 In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that it is not viable or feasible to provideaffordable housing on-site.Off-site provision8.117 Having assessed the viability of providing on-site affordable housing, in line with theNPPF (Para 50), London Plan Policy 3.12 and LB Southwark’s draft and adoptedaffordable housing guidance, the Applicant is committed to a full exploration tosecure affordable housing off-site within the locality.8.118 A detailed investigation of a number of potential sites in the locality would determinewhether it is feasible to provide affordable housing off-site, within a reasonabletimeframe such that it does not delay the delivery of the Proposed Development, andto determine what can be delivered on each site.8.119 This is the subject of ongoing investigation and discussion with LB Southwark. Thefinal arrangements for affordable housing delivery, would be secured as part of theSection 106 Agreement for the Site.8.120 The off-site provision secured would meet the mix of tenures and homes set out in LBSouthwark Core Strategy Policy 7 and draft SPD or as subsequently agreed with LBSouthwark as part of the planning process.8.121 Provision of affordable housing off-site would enable more appropriately locatedsites and schemes to be secured for a greater number of affordable homes thancould be achieved on-site, in particular family housing (in accordance with LondonPlan Policy 3.8 (including draft Early Minor Alterations) and Core Strategy StrategicPolicy 7). The Applicant is currently reviewing sites in terms of their potential toaccommodate the off-site affordable housing.8.122 The Applicant would continue to work with LB Southwark post-submission of theplanning application to investigate potential donor sites for securing affordablehousing provision.8.123 The approach to affordable housing is therefore in accordance with the NPPF, theLondon Plan and LBS adopted and emerging policy.Residential Density8.124 The London Plan provides a density guideline of 650 -1100 habitable rooms for ahighly accessible CAZ location such as the Site. The Core Strategy (Strategic Policy 6)and the draft BBLB SPD identify that within the Opportunities Areas the maximumdensities set out above may be exceeded when developments are of an exemplarystandard of design.8.125 The Proposed Development results in a residential density of 1,864 habitable roomsper hectare if calculated using the ‘Greenwich Method’ which expresses the densityin terms of the residential floorspace as a proportion of the total floor space in thedevelopment. When calculated in line with the methodology set out in Southwark’sResidential Design Standards SPD the resultant residential density is 2,518 hr/ha.Page 39PLANNING POLICY ASSESSMENT