Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
Update national policy to encourage minimum affordable housing targets in Local Plans.
Recommendation
As part of its ongoing review of the viability planning practice guidance, the Government must consider how different types of developer contribution could be re-negotiated following a viability assessment, to protect affordable housing contributions. The Government must also update national policy to encourage all local authorities to set a minimum percentage target for affordable housing in their Local Plan for all major developments that include housing. This figure should be based on a local need assessment for affordable housing in each local authority, with particular regard for the local need for Social Rent homes. Local authorities should be encouraged to offer a ‘fast-track route’ for developments which meet the local affordable housing target, by making those developments exempt from detailed viability assessments and re-assessments later in the development process. This would encourage developments with a high percentage of affordable housing and speed up the delivery of housing of all tenures. (Recommendation, Paragraph 71)
Government Response Summary
The government stated that existing legislation provides clear powers for compulsory purchase of land for new towns based on the ‘no-scheme’ principle, and that Homes England, LAs and potential Development Corporations already have access to CPO powers.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
61. The Government is aware of the potential of securing the land value uplift created by schemes such as the New Towns Programme. Existing powers in legislation are clear that, should negotiations fail to purchase land by agreement for the delivery of new towns, valuations for the compulsory purchase of land will be on the basis of the ‘no-scheme’ principle (so disregarding the scheme of development, or prospect of the scheme, underpinning the compulsory purchase). Homes England, LAs and any potential Development Corporations all have access to CPO powers if negotiations to buy land fail and there is a compelling case in the public interest for use of a CPO. The strategy for valuation and purchase of land will be delivered with those existing statutory provisions and commercial considerations in mind.