Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Affordable Housing
Communication &
Marketing Strategy
2. Affordable Housing 5
2.1 What is Affordable Housing
2.2 Why do we need Affordable Housing
5. Action Plan 10
6. Appendix 14
Appendix A – Recommendations from the Affordable Housing
Panel – June 2007
2
1. Introduction
Daventry District Council has always prioritised affordable housing and as
such it forms part of our objective to create Healthy, Safe and Strong
Communities and Individuals.
• Exceeded targets set out in our corporate plan for the delivery of
affordable housing within the district
• Strengthened and improved partnerships with stakeholders including
Registered Social Landlords, Land Agents, Homes & Communities
Agency
• Implemented its Choice Based Lettings system and is working towards
the sub-regional scheme
• Established Policies and Procedures to deal with Empty Homes
AHP concluded its first phase of work in June 2007 with a report agreed by
Full Council. The report included a series of recommendations, which are set
out in appendix A.
One of the Panels recommendations was to write and implement a marketing
and communication strategy to promote affordable housing and continue to
improve communication between the Council and its partners which was
produced in 2007.
The new Coalition Government has proposed significant changes to the
delivery of affordable housing; such as a cut in grants for developers and the
“Localism Agenda” posing to significantly change the way affordable housing
is delivered.
The 2010 update does, however, show what we have achieved since 2007
and detail how Daventry District Council will continue to prioritise and deliver
affordable housing within the district
3
2. Affordable Housing
This definition forms the basis of the bigger agenda of building sustainable
mixed communities with high quality housing and a mix of tenures that
includes market and affordable housing.
The demand for affordable housing has always been higher than its supply.
Previously this situation was due to inflation in house prices leading to
decreased affordability for buyers especially first timers.
In the past few years the recession has had a negative affect on house prices
bringing them down significantly but due to restricted mortgage lending, open
market housing has become harder to access.
The 2009 Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) found that only
24.3% of housing sold would be affordable to individual earners with incomes
of less than £34,999 and only 6.5% would be affordable for those with a
salary of £25,000 or less.
House prices have had a direct affect on both the social and private rented
housing markets. Landlords have used the low values of properties to their
4
advantage by buying and letting them on the open market. Unfortunately
most landlords are unwilling to charge an affordable rent so again they are
inaccessible to people on low incomes. This in turn leads to an increased
demand of social housing.
Daventry District Council is now exploring the possibility of using private
landlords to provide our applicants on the waiting list with a home.
5
3 What have we been doing since 2007?
6
Worked proactively with RSL’s to promote and deliver affordable
housing including consultation with local residents
Conducted 4 parish walks with the intention of identifying potential
land for affordable housing
7
4 Key Principles
8
Look at the possibility of providing links to the web page from the web
pages of other organisations.
• Masons
• National Farmers Union
• Rotary Club
• Colleges
• Public Organisations
• Church of England and individual dioceses which have property
departments
• Network Rail
9
5. Action Plan
10
Communication Methodology & Processes Responsibility Timescale Comments
Method Source Process
Champion affordable housing Information Road shows Hold events around the Affordable Housing
throughout the district visiting Sessions Workshops district to promote Officer
Parish Councils and residents to Briefing Sessions affordable housing and its
explain the need for affordable benefits. Have stands Portfolio Holder
housing and the processes showing successful
involved. This could include developments Housing Strategy
seminars and briefing sessions Hold workshops to raise Officers
with Elected Members acting as awareness of affordable
advocates housing priorities, issues,
processes amongst local
councillors and parish
councillors in order for them
to champion affordable
housing within their wards
and parishes perhaps by
holding surgeries in
conjunction with DDC
officers
Arrange specific training
days and events as
opportunities arise
Attend local community
events within the district to
speak to local people to
identify potential housing
development opportunities
e.g. village walks etc
12
Communication Methodology & Processes Responsibility Timescale Comments
Method Source Process
Contact landowner agents to Office Landowners Speak to land agents Affordable Housing Annual basis
encourage the identification and communicati Land Agents Officer When
release of land especially in rural on methods ACRE opportunities
locations for the development of arise.
affordable housing
Establish a rolling programme of Surveys Parish council & Work with Parish Councils Housing Strategy 3 years
Parish housing needs surveys residents and the local community to
establish the housing needs
within each parish
13
6. Appendix
1. Communication
Strategy & Policy Lead Officer & Affordable Housing Officer responsible for
developing the strategy with the Affordable Housing Panel responsible for
reviewing it. (strategy complete by September 2007, with ongoing review)
2. Information
14
2.2 Undertake financial evaluations on new developments to ensure that the
Council understands the development economics of individual sites.
Planning Policy & Housing Strategy (ongoing as and when sites become
available).
3.2 Review the exceptions policy with a view to introduce a flexible approach
that takes account of the size, location and infrastructure of a village
3.4 Review the current affordable housing thresholds with a view to lowering
them to a level that will increase the supply of affordable housing.
15
Planning Policy & Housing Strategy Team through the adoption of the
Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (in accordance with
the Local Development Scheme).
3.5. If need is highlighted, consider the allocation of small scale sites solely for
affordable housing.
Planning Policy & Housing Strategy Team through the development of the
Local Development Framework (in accordance with the Local Development
Scheme).
3.6. Ensure that the Affordable Housing policies adopted through the
Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document take account of areas
including thresholds, tenure and mix, affordable housing percentages, pepper
potting and design.
Planning Policy & Housing Strategy (through the adoption of the Affordable
Housing Supplementary Planning Document, in accordance with the Local
Development Scheme).
4. Legal
4.1 Ensure that all new Section 106 agreements are developed in conjunction
with the Countywide Section 106 good practice guide taking account of areas
including, mix and tenure.
Development Control & Planning Policy & Housing Strategy teams (ongoing
when required).
4.2 On rural sites ensure that cascade systems continue to be used in Section
106 agreements that prioritise applicants with local connections for new
affordable units.
16
Development Control & Planning Policy & Housing Strategy (ongoing when
required).
5. Regional
5.1 Ensure that representation from the district is made in respect of regional
investment in affordable housing.
17