Policy information sourced from Camden Local Plan
H8 Housing for Older People, Homeless People and Vulnerable People
The Council will aim to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of appropriate housing available for older people, homeless people and vulnerable people to live as independently as possible.
We will support development of a variety of housing aimed at meeting the specific needs of older people and vulnerable people provided that the development:
- is needed to meet a demonstrable need within the borough and will be targeted at borough residents;
- will be suitable for the intended occupiers in terms of the standard of facilities, the level of independence, and the provision of support and/or care;
- will be accessible to public transport, shops, services, community facilities and social networks appropriate to the needs of the intended occupiers;
- contributes to creating a mixed, inclusive and sustainable community; and
- does not cause harm to nearby residential amenity.
In accordance with Policy H4 Maximising the supply of affordable housing, the Council may seek affordable housing for older people or vulnerable people as part or all of the affordable housing contribution from developments that include housing and have capacity for 25 or more additional homes. In accordance with Policy H6 Housing choice and mix, we may also support the inclusion of housing for older people or vulnerable people where housing is proposed as part of a development with a site area of 0.5 ha or greater. In the case of any market-led development aimed at older people, homeless people or vulnerable people, particularly where the development contains self-contained homes, the Council will expect the development to make a contribution to the supply of affordable housing in accordance with Policy H4.
We will also support development that adapts or replaces existing provision for older people, homeless people or vulnerable people with housing better able to foster independent living and accommodate any changes in their support and care needs.
We will resist development that involves the net loss of housing floorspace for older people, homeless people and vulnerable people unless either:
- the existing housing is shown to be surplus to needs within the borough; or
- it can be demonstrated that the existing homes are incapable of meeting contemporary standards for the support and/or care of the intended occupiers; or
- adequate replacement accommodation will be provided that satisfies criteria (1) to (5) above; or
- the loss of floorspace is necessary to enable the development of housing for the same intended occupiers that satisfies criteria (1) to (5) above and is better able to foster independent living and meet any changes in their support and care needs; or
- the development will otherwise enable the provision of an alternative form of housing or support that better meets the objectives of this policy and the Local Plan.
Where the Council is satisfied that a development involving the loss of housing for older people, homeless people or vulnerable people is justified, we will expect it to create an equivalent amount of floorspace for an alternative form of supported housing, or for permanent self-contained housing for people with support needs or for general needs (in Use Class C3), including an appropriate amount of affordable housing, having regard to Policy H4.
For more information please see the Local Plan