Agenda item

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 time ago. The Panel also heard, that the value of community buy in was acknowledged however there was no formal trigger for concerns, but ideas from the Panel on this would be welcome.

Following the discussion, it was

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Panel would be added to the Council report to allow for visibility during their consideration of the report.