Policy information sourced from the Westminster City Plan

9. Affordable housing

A: At least 35% of all new homes will be affordable across Westminster.

B: There will be no net loss of affordable housing across the city. All residential proposals will provide a minimum of 35% of the total residential units as affordable housing on-site if they:

  • have a site area of 0.5 hectares or more; or
  • are proposing ten or more residential units; or
  • are proposing 1,000 sq m or more residential floorspace (for sale or rent).

C: In exceptional cases, affordable housing provision can be made off-site (in whole or in part) in the vicinity of the host development. This will only be accepted where it is sufficiently demonstrated that on-site provision is physically or otherwise impracticable or is inappropriate in terms of the quantity or quality of affordable housing to be provided. Provision of affordable housing off-site (in whole or in part) beyond the vicinity of the host development will only be acceptable where:

  • it can be demonstrated that a rigorous search for sites revealed no sites are available for affordable housing in the vicinity that could be reasonably and viably purchased, including on council owned land; and
  • the site proposed can demonstrably provide more affordable housing and of a higher quality than would have been possible on or off-site in the vicinity; and
  • provision off-site will demonstrably contribute to achieving mixed communities.

D: A payment in lieu to the council’s Affordable Housing Fund may be accepted only as a last resort if it is demonstrated to the council’s satisfaction that no sites are available for off-site provision.

E: 60% of the affordable units will be ‘intermediate’ affordable housing for rent or sale and 40% will be social rent or London Affordable Rent.

F: For intermediate housing, new affordable homes will be provided across the indicative income levels set out in the Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing SPD.

G: The size of these homes, including the number of bedrooms required to meet need will be provided in line with the council’s Annual Affordable Housing Statement.

H: Proposals involving the demolition of existing affordable housing will not be permitted unless it is replaced by at least an equivalent amount of affordable housing floorspace. Additional affordable housing will be maximised in such redevelopment proposals.

For more information please see the City Plan