Policy information sourced from the Braintree District Council Local Plan 2013-2033.
LPP 35: Housing Mix and Density.
Development shall create sustainable, inclusive and mixed communities through providing a mix of house types and size at an appropriate density for the area, which reflects local need.
The density and massing of residential development will be related to all the following criteria:
- a. The character of the site and its immediate surroundings, as well as the wider locality
- b. The adequacy of the access and the local road system to accommodate the traffic likely to be generated
- c. The existing vegetation, including trees on the site and the necessity for further landscaping
- d. On-site amenity space to be provided in accordance with the adopted guidance
- e. An appropriate standard of residential accommodation is provided for the occupants.
Housing mix should be in line with the identified local need as set out in the 2015 SHMA update (or its successor), unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
All new development should be in accordance with the national technical housing standards.
A minimum of 10% of new market homes on sites of 10 or more dwellings must meet Category M4(2) or Category M4(3)(2)(a)/(b) – Wheelchair Accessible dwellings of Building Regulations 2015, or as superseded, as appropriate.
All new affordable homes on ground floor level must meet Category M4(2) or M4(3). For developments within or adjacent to the Main Towns and Key Service Villages, 5% of all new affordable homes will be required to meet Category M4(3)(2)(a)/(b) – Wheelchair Accessible dwellings - of Building Regulations 2015, or as superseded, as appropriate.
On sites of 500 dwellings or more, serviced plots equating to 2% of overall homes will be required to be made available for self or custom builders.
For more information, please visit Braintree District Council’s Local Plan here.