Housing CoreStrategyReviewIssuesand OptionsResponseForm
WeareconsultingontheHousingCoreStrategy IssuesandOptionsfrom 16 Octoberto27
November2012. Pleaseuse thisform tosend yourresponsetotheconsultation to-The ExecutiveDirector,PlanningandBoroughDevelopment,FAO:ThePolicyTeam, TheRoyal BoroughofKensingtonandChelsea, TheTownHall,HorntonStreet,LondonW87NX
Name:
Organisation:
Address:
8Issue: The On-site/ Off-siteDebate
Selectoneor moreoptions
Option1: Retain theexistingonsitepolicyapproach. Thisrequiresthat affordablehousingisdeliveredonsiteandonly inexceptional circumstances isoff siteprovisionsupported.
Option2:Move towardsin-kindbut off-sitedeliverywithin theBorough.This mightbejustifiedwherethenumberofhousingunits that couldbe deliveredaresignificantlymorethanon-siteprovisionor theremaybe practical delivery issueswithonsiteprovision.Theoff-sitedelivery approach:
Option3:Relaxthegeographical restrictionsonprovisionofaffordablehousing in theBorough.Thepolicywouldbe moreflexibleinallowing affordablehousing tobeprovidedanywherein theBorough, irrespectiveoftheexistinglevels.
Pleaseprovideyourcommentsontheoptionssuggestedorsuggest other options
9Issue: CommunityInfrastructureLevy(CIL) andCommutedPayments
Selectoneor moreoptions
Option1:Continuewith thecurrent policywhichisin-kindandon-sitedelivery exceptonsmallerschemeswithafloorspaceofbetween800sqmand
1,200sqm.
Option2:UseCIL(or s106agreements) tocollectpaymentsfor affordable housing. AmendthepolicytousetheCommunityInfrastructureLevy (CIL) or s106ifCILdoesnot comeforward, tosecurecontributions to affordablehousing.Theprovisionofaffordablehousingwill thenbethe responsibilityoftheBorough,andcouldbeprovidedwithinoroutside
oftheBorough.
Pleaseprovideyourcommentsontheoptionssuggestedorsuggest other options
10Issue: TheThresholdofAffordableHousing
Selectoneor moreoptions
Option1:Maintain thestatusquo: affordablehousing (contributionor floorspace)
wouldonlybesoughtonthefloorspace 'inexcess' ofthefirst 800sqm
Option2:Oncetheaffordablehousing thresholdof800 sqmhasbeenreached, all thenet additionalfloorspaceisliableforanaffordablehousing
contributionandthefirst 800sqmisnolongerdiscounted.
Option3:Increasethethresholdforon-siteprovisionfor example to1,600sqm offloorspace,andrequiringfinancial contributionsthroughs106or CIL (iftakenforward) onschemesbelowthisnetincreaseinfloorspace.
Pleaseprovideyourcommentsontheoptionssuggestedorsuggest other options
11Issue:AffordableHousing Targets
Selectoneof thefollowingoptions
Option1:Continuewith thecurrent policy,seekinga50%on-sitefloorspace requirement, subject toviability,onqualifyingsites.
Option2:Remove,or reduce, theheadline target of50%of affordablehousing floorspacetobedelivered,but maintainandemphasise theimportance ofthe'maximum reasonableamount' subject to viabilityconsiderations.
Pleaseprovideyourcommentsontheoptionssuggestedorsuggest other options
12Issue: TheAffordableRentedTenure
Selectoneof thefollowingoptions
Option1:Limit theamount that canbechargedthroughtheAffordableRent tenure,inlinewith theCouncil'sKey Decision (November2011).
Option2:AllowprovisionofAffordableRentedtenureinlinewith thedefinition containedwithin theNPPF (upto80%ofmarketrents).
Pleaseprovideyourcommentsontheoptionssuggestedorsuggest other options
13Issue: TheDeliveryofIntermediateHousingUnits
Selectoneof thefollowingoptions
Option1:Continue toprovideintermediateunits, mainlyas1- 2bedroom units toensuretheyareaffordable tothoseeligibleat thecurrent 15% level.
Option2:Inviewoftherentsthat canbecharged, reducethepercentageof intermediatehousingasaproportionof thetotal affordablehousing to bedeveloped to, say,10%orlower.
Pleaseprovideyourcommentsontheoptionssuggestedorsuggest other options
14Issue:ASuitableMixofHousingSizes: 'Super-Prime'Units
Selectoneof thefollowingoptions
Option1:Continuewith thestatusquoi.e. taketheviewthatit wouldbe imprudent tointerferewith themarket andcontinue toassess applicationsfor lowdensitysuper-primeunitsontheirown merit.
Option2:Allowfor super-primeunitsinschemesbutasa small proportionof the overall mix.
Option3:Resistsuper-primeunits innewresidential developmentsrecognising that thismarket canbecateredbyanappropriatede-conversions policy.
Pleaseprovideyourcommentsontheoptionssuggestedorsuggest other options
15Issue:AmalgamationsandDe-conversions
Selectoneof thefollowingoptions
Option1:Continuewith thestatusquoandretaintheexistingpolicyresisting lossonlywhere thereisanet lossof fiveunitsormore.
Option2:Allowthe restorationoflargefamilysizedhousesback tothepurpose for which theywerebuilt(thismay involve thelossofmorethanfive
residential units).
Option3:Makeall de-conversionsthesubjectofaplanningapplicationand resist thelossofanyunitswhich met minimum floorspacestandards.
Pleaseprovideyourcommentsontheoptionssuggestedorsuggest other options
16Issue: SpecialistHousing:SupportedHousing,HousingforOlderPeople
Selectoneof thefollowingoptions
Option1:Continuewith thestatusquoi.e. support provisionof'extracare' housingparticularly in thesouthoftheBorough.
Option2:Supplement theexistingpolicybyallowing,or requiring, agreater proportionofsmallerunitsandreserving thesefor theelderlybothin theaffordableandprivatehousingsectors.Theexactmechanism for ensuring thiswouldneed tobedeveloped,butitmight meanfor example,theprovisionof'affordableextracare'homeswithin developments,securedthroughplanningobligations.
17Issue: ProvisionforGypsiesandTravellers
Selectoneof thefollowingoptions
Option1:Identifyother siteseither in theRoyal Boroughorelsewhere.
Option2:Settingacriteriabasedpolicytoassesswherefuturepitchescouldbe locatedifitisnot possible toidentifyanysitesunder Option1.
Pleaseprovideyourcommentsontheoptionssuggestedorsuggest other options