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Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control, and Infrastructure
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Members will be asked to endorse the Small Sites Affordable Housing Viability Assessment as part of the evidence base for the Cambridge Local Plan 2014.
The
Council was in the process of reviewing its Local Plan in order to plan and
manage development to 2031. In order to inform development of the Council’s
affordable housing policy position, the Council commissioned consultants to
carry out a high level assessment of the likely potential for the provision of
affordable housing on smaller sites than currently required through the adopted
Cambridge Local Plan 2006 (15 units). This may be either through on-site
provision of affordable housing or via a financial contribution mechanism.
The
findings of the draft report (Supplementary Report Small Sites –Affordable
Housing Viability) informed the development of the draft policy on affordable
housing which was reported to and agreed at Full Council on 27 June 2013.
Decision of Executive Councillor
for Planning and Climate Change:
The Executive Councillor resolved:
i.
To endorse the content of the
Supplementary Report on Small Sites – Affordable Housing Viability 2013, the
findings of which have been used as a part of development of the draft
affordable housing policy agreed at Full Council on 27 June 2013, for use as an
evidence base for the review of the Local Plan and as a material consideration
in planning decisions.
Reason for the Decision:
As set out in the Officer’s report.
Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
Not applicable.
Scrutiny Considerations:
The Committee received a report from the Principal Planning Policy
Officer regarding the Small Sites Affordable Housing Viability Assessment.
The Committee asked the following questions regarding
commuted sums:
i.
Could
they be added to right to buy receipts?
ii.
How long
could the financial contributions be kept before they had to be spent?
iii.
Who was
the money available to?
iv.
Could
Housing Associations access it?
The Principal Planning Policy Officer stated that she would investigate if commuted sums could
be added to right to buy receipts. She agreed to contact the Legal and Housing
Departments for guidance regarding the how long the financial contributions
could be kept for. She further agreed to contact the Strategic Housing Manager
for more information on which organisations could access the money.
Action
In response to questions from the Committee, the Head of
Planning confirmed that an Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document
would be prepared and was planned to be available ready for adoption of the new
local plan. This would include a methodology for calculating commuted
sums.
The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the
recommendations.
The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.
Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any
dispensations granted)
Not applicable.
Publication date: 29/07/2013
Date of decision: 09/07/2013