Tracked Version of Core Strategy, November 2012 - Selby District ...

Selby District Submission Draft Core Strategy – May 2011
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should be secured in connection with affordable housing. A split of
30-50% intermediate tenure and 50 –70% social rent is suggested by
the analysis. Intermediate tenure could include shared ownership,
discounted sale and fixed equity products, as well as intermediate
rented options.
5.76 The assessment recommends that affordable homes should be
similar to private homes in terms of style, quality of specification and
finish and that on larger sites, affordable housing is integrated
throughout the site as a more sustainable and socially acceptable
solution. The report also emphasises that securing affordable
housing in perpetuity is critical and key to this process is the use of
comprehensive Section 106 agreements.
The Viability of Affordable Housing Provision
5.77 Evidence on the viability of different sized affordable housing
schemes at a range of different locations is provided by the Selby
District Economic Viability Study 20 . The study base date of mid 2009
coincides with the low point of the economic downturn which occurred
from 2008 onwards.
5.78 As a consequence of the timing of the Study, 10% affordable housing
was found to be an appropriate requirement across the District.
However, the Study assessed conditions over a range of scenarios
including consideration of viability in very good market conditions
similar to those which existed immediately prior to the economic
downturn (2006/07). The equivalent percentage requirement in this
case was 50%. The Study also considered variations in viability in
differing areas of the District which illustrated substantial variations
between the rural areas in the north and north-western parts and the
south-east part of the District. The three towns of Selby, Sherburn in
Elmet and Tadcaster fall between the two extremes in viability terms.
5.79 The Study therefore illustrates the inherent problems in producing a
robust, yet relatively straightforward policy for the requirement of
affordable housing in association with private housing developments
across the District.
Affordable Housing Policy
5.80 The two main aims of the Core Strategy affordable housing policy are:
a) To establish the overall target for the provision of affordable
housing in the District in accordance with PPS3 national
guidance on the definition and provision for affordable housing
(PC3.8);
b) To set out the broad framework within which developer
contributions towards meeting affordable housing need will be
sought in association with normal market housing.
5.81 PPS 3 – Housing (July 2010) indicates that Local Development
Documents should set an overall (plan-wide) target for the amount of
20 Affordable Housing Economic Viability Assessment by consultants DTZ for the Council , August
2009 http://www.selby.gov.uk/service_main.asp?menuid=&pageid=&id=1821
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