Policy H/AH: Affordable housing

This policy will set out how affordable housing will be delivered, by specifying the size of developments on which affordable homes will be provided and setting out the types of affordable housing required to address identified needs.

On sites of 10 or more dwellings 40% of new homes will be required to be affordable, except where: there can be a proportionate reduction as a result of vacant buildings being re-used or re-developed (as set out in national planning policy), the development is solely for Build to Rent (see H/BR for the requirements relating to these developments), the development is for some types of specialist accommodation that fall within Use Class C2, or the development is solely for residential caravans (see H/RC and H/GT for the requirements relating to these developments).

Affordable homes should be provided on-site except for in the circumstances set out in paragraph 63 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021.

Mixed tenure developments that include Build to Rent homes should make up any shortfall in affordable homes within the Build to Rent element on the remainder of the development, so that overall the development delivers 40% affordable homes. 

The affordable housing tenures provided should include the requirements as set out in national planning policy and guidance – the first at least 25% of the affordable homes on the development to be

First Homes are a specific kind of discounted market sale housing and should be considered to meet the definition of ‘affordable housing’ for planning purposes. Specifically, First Homes are discounted market sale units which:

a) must be discounted by a minimum of 30% against the market value;

b) are sold to a person or persons meeting the First Homes eligibility criteria;

c) on their first sale, will have a restriction registered on the title at HM Land Registry to ensure this discount (as a percentage of current market value) and certain other restrictions are passed on at each subsequent title transfer; and,

d) after the discount has been applied, the first sale must be at a price no higher than £250,000.

, with at least 10% of all new homes on the development to be provided as affordable home ownership products.

The plan will set out the proportion of the different affordable housing tenures for the remaining up to 75% of the affordable homes (after the at least 25%

First Homes are a specific kind of discounted market sale housing and should be considered to meet the definition of ‘affordable housing’ for planning purposes. Specifically, First Homes are discounted market sale units which:

a) must be discounted by a minimum of 30% against the market value;

b) are sold to a person or persons meeting the First Homes eligibility criteria;

c) on their first sale, will have a restriction registered on the title at HM Land Registry to ensure this discount (as a percentage of current market value) and certain other restrictions are passed on at each subsequent title transfer; and,

d) after the discount has been applied, the first sale must be at a price no higher than £250,000.

have been accounted for). This will take into account the issues of affordability experienced in

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

and also viability, but should include an element of social rent homes in recognition that the Councils have been identified by the Government as areas of high affordability pressure.

Affordable rents should be set having regard to the Greater Cambridge Housing Strategy Annexe 11: Setting of Affordable Rents (Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, June 2021) or a successor document.

Affordable housing for rent homes should be designed to accommodate different family compositions, with the bedspaces per dwelling guided by the recommendations set out in the Greater Cambridge Housing Strategy Annexe 5: Summary of Requirements for Development of New Homes (Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, April 2019) or a successor document.

Affordable homes must be designed to be indiscernible from market homes, and affordable homes should be distributed throughout the site in small groups or clusters, in accordance with the guidance provided in the Greater Cambridge Housing Strategy Annexe 10: Clustering and Distribution of Affordable Housing (Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, June 2021) or a successor document.

Local Lettings Plans will be required, where appropriate to help achieve mixed and balanced communities or to prioritise housing such as for local workers or for specific groups of people.

Applicants will be encouraged to work collaboratively with a

Registered Provider means a provider of Affordable Housing which is designated in the register maintained by the Homes and Communities Agency. The statutory register of social housing providers lists private (non-profit and profit-making) providers and local authority providers. Most non-profit providers are also known as housing associations.

, the relevant Councils housing team, and the

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Shared Planning service, to discuss the affordable housing provision and affordable tenures for a new development ahead of the submission of a planning application.

Viability will be considered as set out in the approach included in paragraph 58 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021. The

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

will be subject to a viability assessment at each stage of plan making, including a whole plan viability assessment that will accompany the draft plan and be updated at subsequent stages of plan making. Current evidence indicates that securing 40% affordable homes is deliverable across

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

taking account of other development costs assumed so far. The deliverability and viability of securing 40% affordable homes on all major developments across

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

will be kept under review as the preparation of the

Short form for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, which sets out policies to guide the future development of Greater Cambridge. It also sets out where future development will take place, and identifies land for new housing, community facilities, shops and employment. It is the key document use to determine planning applications for new development in the Greater Cambridge area.

progresses.