Policy information sourced from the Hounslow Local Plan Part 1
SC2 - MAXIMISING THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Our approach
We will maximise the provision of affordable mixed tenure housing on development sites and from all other sources of supply. We have set a strategic target that 40% of additional housing delivered across the borough between 2015 and 2030 be affordable.
We will achieve this through:
- Seeking the maximum reasonable amount of affordable housing to be negotiated on a site by site basis on all sites with a capacity to provide ten or more homes (gross) with reference to the strategic borough-wide target of 40% of all new housing as affordable;
- Employing a review mechanism upon partial or full completion of a development when financial viability assessments demonstrate that current market conditions will support less than 40% affordable housing;
- Recognising that development proposals with a significant amount of existing floorspace will result in a lower CIL liability which could further enhance viability for the delivery of a greater proportion of affordable housing than would otherwise be achievable. Vacant Building Credit (VBC) will also be applied in this context whereby the Council will seek the maximum reasonable amount of affordable housing across areas of increased floorspace, recognising improvements in overall viability that may have been secured through the application of VBC on existing floorspace; and
- Delivering and supporting the delivery of affordable housing through other sources of supply, such as local authority new builds, reuse of empty homes and various forms of specialist housing.
We will expect development proposals to
- Provide an open book financial viability assessment and any supporting evidence to demonstrate the maximum provision of on-site affordable housing is being proposed on sites with a capacity for 10 or more homes, with reference to the 40% strategic affordable housing target as well as the impacts of existing floorspace through VBC and reduced CIL liability. Developers may also be asked to facilitate an independent viability assessment by a third party where requested by the council;
- Provide affordable housing on-site, unless the council considers that such provision is not practical or feasible, in which case off-site provision or appropriate cash in-lieu payments may be considered in exceptional circumstances;
- Deliver a mix of 60% affordable/social rented and 40% intermediate tenures on all qualifying sites; and
- Provide an appropriate mix of both housing size and tenure in accordance with housing need as set out in Policy SC3.
For more information please see the Hounslow Local Plan Part 1