The need for affordable housing
9. Government’s goal (as expressed in its planning policy guidance on housing “(PPS3)” is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity of living in a decent home, which they can afford, in a community where they want to live. Its advice “Delivering Affordable Housing”, published in conjunction with PPS3, says:
10. “Everyone should have the opportunity of a decent home, which they can afford, within a sustainable mixed community. This means providing a wide choice of housing to meet the needs of the whole community in terms of tenures and price ranges. This should include affordable housing, both social rented and intermediate.”
11. Government expects local councils’ planning policies and decisions to deliver an appropriate mix of quality housing including affordable homes suited to the needs of people unable to afford market housing. Policy H14 of the adopted Thanet Local Plan deals with provision of affordable housing in new housing developments, and confirms that for sites covered by the policy the willingness of the developer to provide an element of affordable housing will be a consideration in deciding planning applications.
12. Studies of Thanet’s housing needs indicate a substantial shortfall of affordable homes in the District. Therefore it is important that an element of affordable housing is included in new residential schemes in line with the Policy. The Policy (set out in full at Annex 1) reflects the level of need for affordable homes in Thanet.
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Strategic Housing
E-mail:
housing@thanet.gov.uk
Tel: 01843 577280