Agenda item

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

The Principal Project Manager, City Development presented the application for a variation of condition 1 to supersede the affordable housing layout of approval 24/0317/RES (Approval of access, layout, scale, appearance and landscaping reserved matters pursuant to planning permission ref. 23/0584/OUT and additional details including lighting, drainage, and bat/bird boxes).

Members received a presentation which included:-

·         site location plan;

·         aerial view;

·         approved tenure layout;

·         proposed tenure layout;

·         key issues; and

·         officer recommendation.

Particular reference was made to the application proposed changing the approved 40 dwelling scheme from 35% affordable housing to 100% affordable housing, which would require a change to the Section 106 agreement. There was significant demand for affordable housing and the proposed tenure split of 55% social rent and 45% intermediate housing, was considered acceptable.

The Principal Project Manager, City Development responded to questions from Members as follows:-

·         the 100% affordable housing related only to this site and could not be carried forward to other sites;

·         the selection of residents would be controlled through a choice system;

·         the number of houses had remained the same;

·         there were no changes to the layout of the site, but a change to the tenure of housing now being affordable housing;

·         applicants would come through the Devon Home Choice scheme, but clarification would be provided by the speaker from Live West;

·         Live West proposed managing public open space in house to prevent paying another company to manage it; and

·         the original conditioned landscape management plan was still in place.

Mr GJ, speaking in favour of the application, made particular reference to:-

·         Live West supported the revised application to deliver 40 additional affordable homes at the site;

·         the revisions removed the requirement for first homes, removing the lower limits for the delivery of affordable homes, and amending the mortgage and possession clause within the Section 106 agreement;

·         there were changes to the landscape management and a new layout plan;

·         the changes aligned with recent national policy changes and were necessary for the funding and delivery of social rent homes;

·         the application sought to vary the Section 106 to enable the delivery of affordable homes by Live West; and

·         the Mortgage Possession Clause, sought to replace the clause to an industry standard and aid loan funding secured against homes.

Mr GJ responded to Members’ questions as follows:-

·         Live West worked proactively with Devon Home Choice to prioritise homes for those with priority housing needs to offer suitable accommodation;

·         Live West was a strategic funding partner with Homes England, and had secured funds to deliver the homes;

·         the proposal was to deliver 22 homes for social rent and 18 for shared ownership;

·         social rent was normally 60% of the market rent, which was more affordable than affordable rent (80% of the market rent); and

·         the mortgage clause changes related to securing funding from banks but were not directly related to shared ownership.

During the debate, Members welcomed the proposal and highlighted Live West as an excellent partner for housing provision.

The recommendation was for a variation of condition 1 to supersede the affordable housing layout of approval 24/0317/RES (Approval of access, layout, scale, appearance and landscaping reserved matters pursuant to planning permission ref. 23/0584/OUT and additional details including lighting, drainage, and bat/bird boxes) as set out in the report.

The Chair moved and Councillor Mitchell seconded the recommendation, which was voted upon and CARRIED.

RESOLVED to

a) delegate to the Head of City Development to grant subject to the conditions listed in the report and the completion of a Deed of Variation to the S106 agreement relating to planning permissions 23/0584/OUT to increase affordable housing levels, remove reference to First Homes, adjust mortgagee in possession clause and modify public open space maintenance responsibilities as set out in this report. / and as amended during the meeting; and

b) refuse permission for the reasons set out below if the legal agreement under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) is not completed by 17 August 2025 or such extended time as agreed in writing by the Head of City Development.