Policy information sourced from Core Strategy for Chiltern District

CS8: Affordable Housing Policy

The Council will aim to achieve the following targets for the provision of affordable housing. In new developments which contain 15 dwellings or more, at least 40% of dwellings within the development shall be affordable. In developments with less than 15 dwellings, there should be:

  • At least four affordable housing units on sites which have 12 to 14 dwellings;
  • At least three affordable housing units on sites of 10 or 11 dwellings;
  • At least two affordable housing units on sites of 8 or 9 dwellings;
  • At least one affordable housing unit on sites of 5 to 7 dwellings;
  • On sites of 1 to 4 dwellings, a financial contribution for each new dwelling towards the provision of affordable housing elsewhere in the District.

The Council recognises that there will be occasions where it is not financially viable for developers to meet the targets in this policy. Where these targets cannot be met the Council will require clear evidence to demonstrate why it is not viable to do so. The Council will review this evidence and where appropriate will negotiate with the developer to establish the affordable housing content or contribution that can be secured without the scheme viability being compromised.

On rural exception sites as described in Policy CS9, all the dwellings must be affordable.

Notes:

  • The Council will make its own assessment of a site’s capacity having regard to the adopted planning policies and other material considerations. This will apply in cases where an application site is part of an identifiable larger area capable of more comprehensive development, regardless of ownership.
  • It should be noted that the levels of affordable housing sought would, according to Adams Integra, still allow scope for contributions towards infrastructure.
  • All dwelling figures are net.
  • “Dwellings” are defined in Use Class C3 in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended)

We will measure success with the assistance of the following indicators:

  • National Indicator NI155 - number of affordable homes delivered (gross) against target of 33 dwellings per annum
  • National Indicator NI156 – reduction in number of households living in temporary accommodation
  • If after four years from adoption of the Core Strategy less than 50% of schemes in any size category have secured the target provision, the Council will undertake a review of the Policy
  • Local performance Indicator LPIPE25 – ‘Percentage of new homes (net) granted planning permission which are affordable’

Delivery will be achieved via:

  • Planning applications
  • Working with Registered Providers (RP), developers and other partners
  • Working with parish councils, and communities and landowners to identify rural exception sites

For more information please see the Core Strategy for Chiltern District