Affordable housing

Guidance for Residential Developers

Are you planning to develop new homes in the Thanet District Council area?  If so, you need to know that obtaining planning permission may depend on your scheme including some affordable housing.

Introduction

Thanet Council’s planning policies, as set out in the adopted Thanet Local Plan, place obligations in some circumstances a requirement on the developer of residential accommodation to provide affordable housing as a condition of the planning permission. This guidance seeks to clarify the requirements of developers in these circumstances.  It aims to streamline the handling of planning applications and provide clear guidance on

• What is meant by affordable housing
• The circumstances where affordable housing will be required
• The circumstances in which an affordable housing contribution will be expected from a development site
• The circumstances in which alternatives to on site provision will be considered by the council
• The basis upon which the value of the affordable housing element will be calculated
• How the Council will secure the affordable housing

1. This is only a brief guide, and anyone applying for planning permission for new build and/or converted residential development is advised to discuss their proposals with the officers from the planning and strategic housing teams as soon as possible before applying for planning permission and before committing to purchase land; (telephone (01843) 577000) 
   
2. The earlier the developer enters discussions with the Council’s officers the more information can be provided.
   
3. When the Council’s planning officers become aware of a site to which this policy applies they will liaise with strategic housing colleagues who, at the earliest opportunity, will provide the developer with as much information as possible to enable assessment of the costs and implications of providing affordable housing.  Such information would include indications of the mix of affordable units required on the site, instances where provision other than on the site is considered appropriate, and the potential level of housing grant the developer may have to replace.
   
4. The Council’s policy on including affordable housing in proposed residential schemes is set out in the adopted Thanet Local Plan (2006).   On sites covered by the policy the Council will expect 30% of the homes to be affordable.
   
5. The Council intends to update its policies and prepare supplementary planning guidance explaining how it will ensure that developers provide for the physical and social infrastructure needed when considering planning applications for development (including affordable housing).  Therefore the content of this guidance may, in future, be amended or augmented.

Next: What is affordable housing?

• Introduction
• what is affordable housing
• why and when  affordable housing   will be required
• Will my scheme need to include affordable housing?
• The circumstances in which alternatives to on site provision will be considered by the council
• How can the affordable housing be secured and delivered?
• Annex 1 - Adopted Local Plan Policy on negotiating elements of affordable housing

Strategic Housing

E-mail:

housing@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577280