Policy information sourced from Bromley Local Plan

Policy 2 Provision of Affordable Housing

In order to meet the needs of the Borough, the Council will:

A: seek affordable housing on all housing developments capable of providing 11 residential units or more or where the residential floorspace is more than 1000sqm, irrespective of the number of dwellings.

On all sites at, or above, this threshold negotiations will take place to determine the number of affordable dwellings to be provided. In negotiating the amount of affordable housing on each site, the Council will seek 35% provision with 60% social-rented/affordable rented housing and 40% intermediate provision, unless it can be demonstrated that a lower level should be sought or that the 60:40 split would not create mixed and balanced communities. The affordability of different elements of the scheme should not immediately be apparent from the siting, design and layout.

The affordable housing should be made available for transfer or occupation before a certain proportion (to be determined through negotiations between the Council and developer) of the market housing is occupied.

Where an applicant proposes a level below the 35%, or the tenure mix is not policy compliant, the Council will require evidence within a Financial Viability Appraisal that will be independently assessed.

B: seek to maximise the use of housing grants and other funding to increase the level of affordable housing above the figure secured in A.

C: support the delivery of affordable housing through other sources of supply, such as estate regeneration, bringing vacant units back into use and other forms of housing which demonstrate they can help meet need.

Payments in lieu

Where it has been determined that a site meets the size threshold and is suitable for affordable housing, payment in-lieu of affordable housing on site or provision in another location will be acceptable only in exceptional circumstances and where it can be demonstrated that: