Policy information sourced from Windsor and Maidenhead Local Plan

HO 2 Housing Mix and Type

The provision of new homes should contribute to meeting the needs of current and projected households by having regard to the following principles

  • provide an appropriate mix of dwelling types and sizes, reflecting the most up to date evidence as set out in the Berkshire SHMA 2016, or successor documents. Where evidence of local circumstances/market conditions demonstrates an alternative housing mix would be more appropriate, this will be taken into account.
  • be adaptable to changing life circumstances
  • for proposals of 20 or more dwellings, 30% of the dwellings should be delivered as accessible andadaptabledwellings inaccordance with Building Regulations M4(2),and5% of thedwellings should meet the wheelchairaccessiblestandardin Building Regulations M4(3),unlessevidence can be provided to demonstrate that such provision would be impracticable or render the scheme unviable.

The provision of purpose built and/or specialist accommodation with care for older people will be supported in settlement locations, subject to compliance with other policy requirements.

Development proposals should demonstrate that housing type and mix have been taken into account and demonstrate how dwellings have been designed to be adaptable.

Proposals for 100 or more net new dwellings (on greenfield sites) are required to provide 5% of the market housing as fully serviced plots for custom and self-build housing.(12)On other allocated and windfall sites, the Council will encourage the provision of custom and self-build plots. Self-build plots will generally be expected to be provided in clusters. Where developers provide custom and self-build plots, these plots must be made available and appropriately marketed for 12 months. Marketing should be agreed with the Council before it is commenced. If the plots have not been sold in the 12 month period, these plots may be reverted back to the developer to build. All self-build plots will need to be provided with a plot passport.

Community-led housing approaches (such as co-housing, community land trusts and co-operatives) will be encouraged in sustainable settlement locations and on allocated sites.

For more information please see the Local Plan