Affordable Housing SPD - Hambleton District Council

Reflecting Policy CP4, in all casesdevelopment should not conflict with theenvironmental protection and natureconservation policies of the LDF andshould provide any necessary mitigatingor compensatory measures to addressharmful implications.Policy DP15Where housing development makesprovision for affordable housing in thecontext of Core Policy CP9 or CP9A, suchdevelopment must:i. be affordable – ie. available at a price orrental level which meets the localdefinition of affordability. This will betaken as defined by the relationshipbetween gross household incomespertaining in the District, and housingcosts. Affordability is thus determinedlocally as follows:• for mortgages, an affordablemortgage will be considered to be nomore than 3.5 times the average lowerquartile single gross income;• for rents, an affordable rent is definedas no more than 25% of the averagelower quartile gross household income;• for intermediate affordable housing,it is affordable if the contribution isno more than 30% of average lowerquartile gross household income;ii. be secured in perpetuity by anappropriate means (legal, ownershipetc), ensuring that the affordabilityremains for successive occupiers;iii.be available to people who have a localconnection and by reason of personalcircumstances and employment can bedemonstrated to be in need of local housing;iv.achieve a balance between rentalproperty and intermediate afordablehousing which reflects current marketconditions and housing needs: an initialtarget will be set of 50% social rentaland 50% intermediate tenures (such asdiscounted sale or equity shares) onaverage in the Plan Area each year;v. be fully integrated within the development,where the affordable housing is locatedwithin a larger housing scheme.Rural Exception Sites2.4 Policy CP9A allows for the development ofland outside Development Limits in specifiedlocations, purely for the purposes of providingaffordable housing. These developments areknown as ‘rural exception sites’. Suchdevelopment must comply with all policiesexplained in this document.2.5 There are restrictions placed uponRegistered Social Landlords (RSLs) thatlimit the amount they can pay for landunder this policy. These are set by theHousing Corporation as a condition ofpayment of subsidy, known as SocialHousing Grant (SHG).2.6 The Council, together with partners,supports the position of Rural HousingEnabler in Hambleton. The post-holderworks to research local housing need, findsites for development in rural areas andenable local need to be met through theprovision or refurbishment of homes in ruralareas for affordable occupancy.2.7 Any proposal under Policy CP9A must besupported by the results of a surveydemonstrating local housing need, theformat, analysis and geographical extent ofwhich has been agreed with the Council.The Council encourages an early dialoguewith the Rural Housing Enabler who willassist by providing information about localhousing need, and facilitating engagementwith local community representatives. It isexpected that proposals for these sites willbe developed with the involvement of thelocal community, and in partnership with theRural Housing Enabler and an RSL.2.8 The number and tenure of affordablehomes provided on rural exception sites willbe determined by local need and localincomes, and will be secured in perpetuityby an appropriate legal agreement.4AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENTJune 2008