Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Assistant Director City Development.

The report of the Assistant Director City Development was submitted, seeking Members’ approval of the revised Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPD) and Planning Obligations SPD at (Appendices A and C of the report) for adoption. Main revisions to the existing, adopted documents responded to planning system changes and introduction of Exeter’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Both documents had been approved by Executive for public consultation in 2013.

The Assistant Director City Development advised that the Affordable Housing SPD had been amended principally in response to the comments of the CIL Examiner that ‘policies in SPD must not conflict with the adopted development plan’ and ‘there was nothing in the Core Strategy to say that 25% affordable housing would be generally acceptable’. The SPD had been redrafted to reflect the Core Strategy and provide for 35% affordable housing on development sites of three or more dwellings.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Customer Access commented that the change from 35% to 25% had been in response to the recession to help ensure that development came forward and now, given the economic upturn, it was considered that 35% Affordable Housing was viable.

Members welcomed the 35% Affordable Housing contribution which would provide for a robust Affordable Housing Policy and further support the development of the city.

RESOLVED that the:-

(1)          revised Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Documents at Appendices A and C be approved and adopted; and

(2)          the Assistant Director City Development be authorised to make any minor modifications as may be necessary.