Core Strategy Preferred Options document - Amazon Web Services

Strategies, Activities and Actions – Housing
The Strategic Housing
Market Assessment
found that half of all
the District’s
households without
existing equity in their
homes could not afford
to rent, and two-thirds
could not afford to buy,
properties in the
District.
Following the transfer
of our housing stock to
Rochford Housing
Association in
September 2007, we
no longer own or
manage properties.
Instead, we work with
Rochford Housing
Association, other
housing associations
in the District and
private landlords to
provide a stock of
homes that meets the
needs of our
community.
H3 – Alternative Options
Option Why is it not preferred?
Bring forward
development in
such areas
prior to 2021
Affordable Housing
To bring forward development in the above
locations would give rise to the potential of an oversupply
of housing, particularly as alternative post-
2021 areas would still have to be found. We wish to
ensure that adequate infrastructure, employment
and other services, as outlined in other sections of
the Core Strategy, are in place in a timely manner
relative to residential development.
Affordable housing is defined in Planning Policy Statement 3 – Housing
(PPS3) as follows:
“Affordable housing includes social rented and intermediate housing,
provided to specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the
market. Affordable housing should:
– Meet the needs of eligible households including availability at a
cost low enough for them to afford, determined with regard to
local incomes and local house prices.
– Include provision for the home to remain at an affordable price
for future eligible households or, if these restrictions are lifted,
for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing
provision.”
We currently negotiate with developers for a provision of affordable
housing to accompany new residential developments, secured through
the imposition of a legal agreement. The Annual Monitoring Report
shows, however, that this approach will still not deliver enough affordable
dwellings to meet the needs of local communities.
Local authorities within Thames Gateway South Essex commissioned a
Strategic Housing Market Assessment for the area. This found an acute
need for affordable housing within Rochford District, equating to 131 net
additional affordable dwellings per year. This amounts to 52% of
Rochford’s annual target. However, it is important that viability is
considered – we recognise the need to not set a requirement that would
prevent the provision of housing. As such, 35%, being the indicative aim
for the region as a whole as set out in the East of England Plan is
considered appropriate as a local requirement. We recognise that
thresholds in the past have been set too high and have hindered the
delivery of affordable housing.
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