Securing affordable housing through the development control process
Having explored policy preparation and its evidence base in earlier sections, This section deals with applying this policy and negotiating, securing and delivering affordable housing through the development control process on a site by site basis. It specifically takes you through the policy process map below and following questions.
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Planning and housing officers to work together
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Identify applications on sites above the threshold, where there is an affordable housing requirement.
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Check the proposed affordable housing contribution against policy requirements
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Contact the applicant where there are outstanding affordable housing issues to be resolved, be explicit about requirements.
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Identify an RSL partner to work with the applicant and deliver the affordable housing.
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Where economic viability is an issue, implement viability assessment procedure.
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Review availability of grant funding for the scheme.
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Where on site provision is not possible, negotiate a commuted sum payment or off site provision
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Agree affordable housing contribution with applicant and agree affordable housing Heads of Terms for the Section 106 Agreement, or relevant conditions.
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Report to Planning Committee to determine the application
- How can effective negotiation with developers be ensured (including working on larger projects)?
- What will the developer's financial considerations be when negotiating planning obligations?
- How should scheme viability be assessed to ensure the affordable housing requirement on a given site is appropriate and deliverable?
- How should the uncertainties of grant funding be overcome in agreeing the provision of affordable housing?
- What is considered best practice in resolving valuation/viability disputes?
- When is it appropriate to use commuted sums or developer contributions for off site provision and how should they be calculated?
- What is considered best practice for the preparation and use of planning obligations through Section 106 agreements, to secure affordable housing?
- When is it appropriate to use planning conditions in securing affordable housing?
- Will affordable housing be a component of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)?
- What is considered best practice in selecting and partnering with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs)?
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