Minutes:
NH highlighted that as part of the work on the new Local Plan, there will be the identification of the level of housing need that there will be in Fenland over the plan period.
It will identify an appropriate split for affordable housing and also a preferred delivery model using information gathered as the Council will have an insight into those people who are identified as being in greatest housing need in respect of affordability. All the investigations and decisions will form part of the Local Plan process.
NH highlighted that the work in relation to identifying housing need and the appropriate split will come through the housing market assessment work. He added that with regard to stalled sites, the Council has put forward a number of sites to the Combined Authority for funding so that those sites have more affordable housing units on them than would otherwise be the case. He added that the funding is only released if the scheme demonstrates value for money as there is a limit per unit that the Combined Authority is prepared to contribute. There are 2 schemes in our area that have been successful in obtaining that funding, however we would be happy to receive any further sites that members of the Forum feel are suitable for Combined Authority funding which can be passed on. NH stressed that it is important that viability information will have to be submitted to the Combined Authority in order for them to consider schemes.
NH added that with respect to the Combined Authorities processes for considering funding development schemes and the frustrations faced by Planning Officers who may receive a planning application which has indicated that it has got viability issues but the Combined Authority are not in a position to consider those schemes whilst they were ’live’. This meant that planning permission would be granted with a section 106 which has a reduced level of affordable housing being provided and therefore in order to increase the number of dwellings, there had to be another process. This has made it difficult for all involved parties. The Council have lobbied the Combined Authority to ask them consider potential funding for potential planning application schemes that are currently live and not determined so that as and when a planning permission is issued along with the associated section 106 it reflects that a decision has been made positively for that scheme to funded in part by the Combined Authority.
NH stated that a number of officers from FDC have had a meeting with Homes England the Combined Authority and a number of registered providers to discuss how there can be better engagement with regard to the delivery of housing within Fenland. The feedback from that meeting is currently being reviewed to work out how best this engagement can take place.
NH mentioned that the Combined Authority have just launched a development company and are looking for sites of up to 40 units where development can commence by 2022. The Council are combing through our 5 year land supply information and records to try and see if there are any suitable candidates. NH asked the Forum if they have any sites that would like to be brought forward to the Combined Authority then please let NH know. The sites need to be outright purchase sites and physically build those developments out.
JM asked NH to clarify what mechanism is in place with regard to the Local Plan in setting its policies taking into account viability, as it would seem that there is an opportunity for the Forum to collaborate on working on an agreed viability assessment. There needs to be a robust and properly carried out assessment.
NH stated that one of the tasks of the policy team will be to identify what the natural viability position is of the district to set the level of section 106 contributions that we will be looking for. Also for the larger sites that are allocated, there will be a site specific exercise carried out so that when the policy associated with that allocation is drawn up there will be the ability to identify what is the appropriate level of S106 for that site.. This way of working is all included in new Government national policy on section 106 CIL/viability and the Government are keen that viability challenges at the point of which planning applications are submitted are going to be reduced.
The Chairman added that he would encourage engagement with developers and agents.
The Chairman asked for clarification with regard to the Combined Authorities development company as to whether they are looking for whole sites or just affordable parts of large sites. NH did not know the answer however stated that if anybody has a proposal please could they let either himself or Dan Horn know and it can be put forward to the Combined Authority.
Ted Brand asked whether the Combined Authority funding is just for Infrastructure
NH stated that in terms of the up to 40 homes, that is the Combined Authority operating as a development company and with regard to other contributions they will consider grant assistance towards putting in infrastructure and site acquisition.
GG added that they recognise that the delivery of housing will impact on jobs and growth and they want to do what they can to stimulate the market.