Issue - meetings

B Report of Director of Planning and Regeneration

(copy herewith)

Cabinet noted the outputs of the West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment May 2010 mentioned in the report

Cabinet agreed:

1.      The West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment May 2010 as a robust piece of evidence that the Council would use to inform its decision making with regards to affordable housing planning policies and the Housing Strategy

2.       An affordable housing target of 35% in the Borough to be provided in new developments, subject to viability considerations, for developments of 15 dwellings or ½ hectare in association with Northampton Local Plan policy H32, in advance of a new policy being adopted within the revised West Northamptonshire Local Development Framework.

3.       An affordable housing tenure mix target of 70% social rent and 30% intermediate housing types (e.g. new build home buy, below market rent, fixed equity, or other below market housing price products that may become available) within Northampton Borough.

4.      A target of no more than 15% of affordable dwellings as 1 bed homes, with the Council placing more emphasis on the provision of 2 bed, 3 bed and 4 bed houses as part of any affordable housing negotiated.

The above targets as set out in option C of the report were adopted for the purposes of development control.

Councillor Clarke addressed Cabinet and commented upon the map appended to the reports and that the definitions applied to describe some locations as “inner urban” or “southern fringe” appeared confusing.

The Chair commented that the map sat alongside Option 4 which was not being recommended for adoption.

Councillor Beardsworth, as the relevant Portfolio Holder submitted a report which set out the significant findings of the West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment, outlined the Affordable Housing Policy Implications for Northampton, and confirmed the Council’s approach to affordable housing requirements.  The Director of Planning and Regeneration commented that the report provided a robust evidence base on which policies could be developed to maximise housing supply and thereby reduce housing need.  Councillor Church observed that the areas identified by Councillor Clarke referred mainly to housing types with a low market value.  The Council should continue to set the highest proportions of affordable housing as was possible to achieve.  The Chair gave a resume of the options A to D.

RESOLVED:         (1)         That the outputs of the West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment May 2010 set out in the report be noted.

(2)         That the West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment May 2010 be agreed as a robust piece of evidence the Council should use to inform its decision making with regards to affordable housing, planning policies and the housing strategy.

(3)         That an affordable housing target of 35% in the Borough be agreed to be provided in new developments subject to viability considerations for developments of 15 dwellings or half a hectare in association with Northampton Local Plan Policy H32 in advance of any new policy being adopted within the revised West Northamptonshire Local Development Framework.

(4)         That an affordable housing tenure mix target of 70% social rent and 30% intermediate housing types (e.g. new build home buy, below market rent, fixed equity or other below market housing price products that may become available) be agreed within Northampton Borough.

(5)         That a target of no more than 50% of affordable dwellings as one bed homes with the Council placing more emphasis on the provision of two bed, three bed and four bed houses as part of any affordable housing negotiating be agreed.

(6)         That the above targets as set out in Option C of the report be adopted for the purposes of development control.