Policy H/BR: Build to rent homes

National planning policy requires the size, type and tenure of homes needed for different groups in the community, including those who rent their homes, to be assessed and that the results of that assessment be reflected in planning policies.

Build to Rent homes can respond to a need, by proving quality homes for those who wish to rent, which adds to the flexibility of the local housing market to respond to demand. There is evidence of local need for this type of housing, and therefore 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.

needs to be clear how any proposals for these types of development will be considered.

National planning policy guidance states that 20% is generally a suitable benchmark for the level of Affordable Private Rent homes to be provided in any Build to Rent scheme. It therefore follows that Build to Rent developments are unlikely to achieve the 40% affordable homes as required on other major residential developments. Given this and that Build to Rent developments will only provide one tenure of affordable housing, the proposed policy direction does not change the overall requirement for 40% affordable housing on major multi-tenure development sites, as set out in proposed Policy H/AH: Affordable housing. It may also be appropriate to limit the proportion of Build to Rent homes within specific new developments in order to secure the provision of affordable housing to meet our identified need and provide mixed and balanced communities. Any such limits would still need to enable the resulting number of Build to Rent homes to be sufficient to be delivered and managed viably. Appropriate policies will be considered when preparing the draft

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.

, including considering site-specific approaches reflecting the

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

Housing Strategy. The draft

A joint plan being developed by the Councils for development of the area west of the new Cambridge North train station, together with Cambridge Science Park. Further information can be found on the Councils website: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/north-east-cambridge-area-action-plan

already takes this approach by proposing that no more than 10% of the total housing across the Area Action Plan should be Build to Rent.

Based on evidence of high levels of affordable housing need, the Councils will aim wherever possible to secure more than 20% of the homes on any Build to Rent scheme to be provided as Affordable Private Rent homes, looking in particular for a balance between the percentage of Affordable Private Rent homes which can be achieved and the potential rental affordability of those homes.

Responses received to the First Conversation highlighted the need to create balanced and integrated communities by providing a mix of housing types, sizes, tenures, ownership and management that reflect the findings of the Councils evidence of housing needs of specific groups. This included support for private rented / Build to Rent accommodation, as part of making housing more widely accessible. Respondents also commented that specific allocations should be made for Build to Rent developments.

1. No policy - Not considered a reasonable alternative as national planning policy requires the housing needs of different groups, including those to rent their homes, to be reflected in planning policies. There is evidence of local need for this type of housing, and therefore 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.

needs to be clear how any proposals for these types of development will be considered.

2. To include a policy with a presumption against Build to Rent developments - This is not the preferred approach as national planning policy requires the housing needs of different groups, including those who rent their homes, to be reflected in planning policies. There is evidence of local need for this type of housing, and therefore 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.

needs to be clear how any proposals for these types of development will be considered.

• 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.

  : Topic paper 7: Homes
• Greater Cambridge Housing Strategy 2019-2023: Homes for Our Future and Annexes 1-8 (Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, April 2019)
• Greater Cambridge Housing Strategy Annexe 9: Build to Rent (Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, June 2021)
• Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk Housing Needs of Specific Groups Study (2021)
• Housing Needs of Specific Groups Study – Addendum for

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

  (2021)
• Build to Rent Market in Greater Cambridge and West Suffolk (Savills, June 2020)
• Build to Rent Market Strategic Overview and Summary of Site-Specific Appraisals (Arc4, March 2021)
• North East Cambridge Market Demand Appraisal Build to Rent (Arc4, March 2021)
• Northstowe Market Demand Appraisal Build to Rent (Arc4, March 2021)
• Waterbeach New Town Market Demand Appraisal Build to Rent (Arc4, March 2021)
• Bourn Airfield New Village Market Demand Appraisal Build to Rent (Arc4, March 2021)

South Cambridgeshire

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.

2018

• Paragraph 7.36 of Policy H/9: Housing Mix supports the provision of build to rent housing.

Cambridge

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.

2018 - None

Our consultation for this phase is now closed.