New affordable housing level for Cheshire East developments

 

Housing developers looking to build in Cheshire East will soon be expected to meet new affordable housing requirements.

The authority currently uses three separate provisions for affordable housing, which were previously set by the former borough councils of Congleton, Macclesfield and Crewe and Nantwich.

Now, Cheshire East Council is looking to introduce a borough-wide requirement of a minimum of 30 per cent affordable housing provision which house builders must adhere to. It is estimated that over 1,200 additional affordable homes per year are needed in Cheshire East over the next four years.

The ‘interim planning statement on affordable housing’ is intended to be in place until Cheshire East’s Local Development Framework is adopted by 2013. The LDF will remain until 2030.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity, said: “Cheshire East has inherited three different planning policies for affordable housing from the local plans of the previous authorities.

“During the past 12 to 18 months, developers have increasingly sought to provide a significantly lower level of affordable housing on sites where they argue it is not viable, in light of the economic downturn.

“There is a lack of a clear framework for evaluating such issues, which is why this interim planning statement is very important. We are well aware that we are under increasing pressure to deliver affordable housing in many forms and to grow and develop a sustainable Cheshire East.”

The interim planning statement is intended to provide updated guidance on affordable housing provision and to ensure consistency when negotiating that provision. It will be used when determining planning applications and appeals.

Crewe and Nantwich and Congleton areas currently both seek a minimum of 30 per cent affordable housing and Macclesfield is 25 per cent.

The interim planning statement was discussed at Cabinet on Monday where members were unanimously in support. It is now set to be approved by full Council on February 24.