Decision details

To approve the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document for adoption.

The Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is proposed to replace the current Affordable Housing SPD which was adopted in December 2005.  The new SPD seeks to support the implementation of the Fareham Local Plan 2037 affordable housing policies HP5 and HP6 by providing information, guidance and advice on meeting policy requirements for affordable housing.

The SPD highlights the importance of early engagement with the Council’s Planning and Housing teams, whilst drawing attention to the importance of design and placemaking, to ensure that development achieves consistent design quality and social inclusion.

To accompany the SPD, a commuted sums calculator has been commissioned by the Council.  This calculator will inform the level of financial contributions which will be payable by developers in the event that affordable housing provision cannot be provided on-site and a financial contribution towards off-site provision is agreed.   

The draft SPD was presented to the Executive on 5^th February 2024 and approved for public consultation.  A six-week period of consultation was undertaken between 16^th February and 29^th March 2024.  Following the consultation, the responses have been considered, summarised and responded to in the Council’s Statement of Consultation and the final version of the SPD is now presented to the Executive for consideration.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a) notes the consultation comments received on the Draft Supplementary Planning Document together with the Council’s responses to the representations as set out in the Statement of Consultation at Appendix A to the report; and

(b) agrees to adopt the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document as set out in Appendix B to the report with effect from the 1 July 2024.