How to use this guide

We really hope that the guide is simple to use and navigate through.

It is divided into 6 key sections:

The Economic downturn is a guest section and will only be available during the current down turn. As new topics or issues arise we will introduce new guest sections.

To access a section, simply click into it on the buttons on the home page or on the menu to the left. Each section then has a brief introduction and process map of the different steps within that section of the guide. As you click on each step, the relevant questions that are answered in that section, that relate to that step are highlighted and you can click on one of them to find out more.

Within these sections you will find colour coded links-these take you to relevant linked questions in the guide or to best practice examples.

Linked documents

You will also find many links in the guide to external documents, government guidance and web sites. These relate to specific elements of the guide but for a full list of all the linked documents in the guide click on linked documents in any of the six sections

View the overall process

On the Home Page you will find a button called View the overall process. This provides a simple to view overview of the entire delivery of affordable housing through the planning process. It is divided between the six sections and colour coded for ease of reference

Templates

A series of templates are included for you to use within your everyday work. For example, a sample brief is included for authorities preparing a brief to consultants to undertake a Strategic Housing Market Assessment. These are accessed within each of the six sections of the guide

Best Practice

Each section has a series of best practice examples from within the region and beyond. To access this, click on the best practice button, within one of six specific sections of the guide.

FAQs

These are located on the main home page and are the most commonly asked questions about affordable housing

Got a Question?

This is for you to ask a question that you may have. It can be submitted to the hosts of the web site arc4 and should be answered within 24 hours. It is not intended to provide detailed advice about individual sites etc but can offer advice and guidance on specific issues relating to affordable housing.

Within this section you can also post good practice or tell us about a new way of working that can then be included in the guide.

Glossary

Throughout the sections you will see some words in bold typeface. Click on them for a quick reference definition. Or use the glossary button throughout the guide to view a list of definitions

Regional contacts

Click on regional contacts on the homepage to view who’s who in the region

The Poll-have your say

Each month we will ask a different question to seek feedback. This may assist us to develop further support and training or to seek feedback and views on specific issues-please vote when you see new questions