Policy information sourced from Hammersmith & Fulham Local Plan

HO3 AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Housing development should increase the supply and improve the mix of affordable housing to help achieve more sustainable communities in the borough. For developments of 11 or more self-contained dwellings, and on sites with the capacity for 11 or more such dwellings, affordable housing should be provided in line with the following:

  • a borough wide target that at least 50% of all dwellings built should be affordable;
  • 60% of additional affordable housing should be for social or affordable renting, especially for families and 40% should be a range of intermediate housing;
  • affordable dwellings should be located throughout a new development and not concentrated on one part of the site;
  • the provision of affordable rented and social rented housing in ways that enable tenants to move into home ownership.

In negotiating for affordable housing in a proposed development, the council will seek the maximum reasonable amount of affordable housing and take into account:

  • site size and site constraints;
  • financial viability, applying the principles set out in the Viability Protocol (Appendix 9);
  • individual circumstances and characteristics of the site;
  • site specific infrastructure;
  • availability of public subsidy; and
  • CIL charge.

Planning applications for developments of 11 or more self-contained dwellings, and with the capacity for 11 or more such dwellings, will not be required to provide viability information, where they:

  • deliver 50% or more affordable housing on site;
  • are consistent with the relevant tenure split within this policy (see also paragraph 6.39); and
  • meet all of the other relevant Local Plan policy requirements and obligations.

For the avoidance of doubt, in circumstances where the three requirements set out immediately above are satisfied, the council will regard that affordable housing provision as “the maximum” reasonable amount of affordable housing.

In exceptional circumstances, a financial contribution may be required to provide affordable housing off-site where other sites may be more appropriate or beneficial in meeting the borough’s identified affordable housing needs.

In addition, there should be no net loss of social/affordable rented housing as part of any development proposals.

For more information please see the Local Plan