Issue - meetings

To receive a report advising Members of the work undertaken by the Strategic Housing Team and to provide an update on the delivery of affordable housing in Huntingdonshire.

Executive Councillor: S Wakeford.

The Cabinet has received and noted the contents of the report and appendix now submitted, the Affordable Housing Advice Note.

A report by the Regeneration and Housing Delivery Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) advising Members of the work undertaken by the Strategic Housing Team and providing an update on the delivery of affordable housing in Huntingdonshire.

Following an introduction by the Executive Councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing, the Cabinet were informed of the progress made to deliver affordable housing within the District and acknowledged the numerous economic challenges faced by the authority in delivering this key action within the Corporate Plan. Executive Members’ attention was then drawn to the Affordable Housing Advice Note which provided advice and guidance to developers on what the expectations were for Huntingdonshire. The views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) were then discussed. Panel Members had primarily sought clarification on a number of points raised within the report which had been responded to at the meeting.

The Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene questioned why the percentage levels of the delivery of affordable housing were lower on larger sites such as Alconbury Weald and Wintringham Park, particularly when compared to the smaller ad hoc sites which were achieving 40% delivery overall. Cabinet Members were informed by the Executive Councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing that each site was unique with different levels, scales, needs and infrastructure requirements. Examples of the latter referred to at the meeting included schools, roads and decontamination levels from ex-military sites. Significant investment in these areas were required which factored into the agreed number of affordable housing to be delivered on each site. In response to subsequent questioning, it was agreed that further information around Wintringham Park and Alconbury Weald would be circulated to Cabinet Members outside of the meeting. The Chair suggested that the decisions of the Development Management Committee at the time should also be included in the Officer response as this would provide further clarity on the agreed affordable housing delivery targets at each site.

In response to a question raised by the Executive Councillor for Planning, the Cabinet were informed that the Local Housing Needs Assessment would be completed within the next year and that a specific timeframe would be known in due course and communicated to Members further.

Having commended Officers for their efforts in contributing towards the delivery of 703 new affordable homes in 2023/24 and in acknowledging the importance of this priority in the prevention of households going into crisis and moving from temporary to permanent accommodation, it was

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report and Appendix now submitted - the Affordable Housing Advice Note - be received and noted.

The Panel is asked to comment on the Affordable Housing Delivery Report.

Executive Councillor: S Wakeford

By means of a report by the Regeneration and Housing Delivery Manager (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book), the Affordable Housing Delivery Report was presented to the Panel.

The Panel heard that there had been a mid term review of the Housing Strategy last year and it was further clarified that the Homes England fund outside of the Section 106 saw allocation on a site by site basis. It had been identified that there was a high need for affordable rented accommodation within the district therefore a 70:30 split with shared ownership properties was employed in the majority of cases, this need is monitored and adjusted as required. It was noted that the GL Hearn report, which was the current needs assessment for Cambridgeshire was in need of updating, however the Panel were advised that a Local Housing Needs Assessment would be undertaken as part of the forthcoming Local Plan work, thus updating the available data. It was observed that two schemes to provide housing for key workers had also been developed recently.

It was clarified, that the term Growth Sites referred to the two sites at Alconbury Weald and Wintringham. These sites were long term developments which would see improvements to infrastructure and the local area as they progressed and it was recognised that there was a high demand for the properties being developed on these sites.

Concerns were exressed over Housing Providers wishing to provide less affordable housing within their development than recommended. The Panel were assured that in such instance, the developer would have to provide an independent viability assessment to reinforce this proposal, this survey would then be reviewed by independent consultants to verify the developers suggestions. It was noted that there were minimal viability challenges on 40% sites.

It was observed by Councillor Catmur that the LP25 standards within the current plan were, in his experience, inadequate for wheelchair users, this would be further looked at and discussed with the Executive Councillor outside of the meeting.

The Panel heard that the report did not looking at individual sites, however it was noted that concerns over parking for residents were taken into account. Furthermore, it was advised that ways to manage current issues would be investigated with Civil Parking Enforcement and local constabulary teams.

The Panel heard, that the recent delivery of affordable housing ahead of schedule ensured that appropriate properties were delivered for residents ahead of time. Work would continue to be undertaken alongside developers and planning colleagues to ensure that the needs of the district are met.

It was confirmed, that rules to manage local connection criteria were set on a case by case basis on rural exception sites. The Panel also heard that housing needs surveys were taken into account in the case of rural exception sites, however the weight given to those surveys was down to the case officer and could be coupled with local knowledge from parishes to ensure it’s accuracy if the survey was undertaken some  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51