Affordable housing statement

Circumstances when document should be submitted

All applications where there is a requirement to provide affordable housing (whether on site or by means of an off site financial contribution).

Within the New Forest District Council administrative area there is currently an affordable housing requirement for all new dwellings other than one for one replacement dwellings (policy AH-2 of the New Forest District Local Plan First Alteration refers). In such cases, the Authority's target is to negotiate 35% of all dwellings on site to be affordable dwellings. In the case of one or two dwellings, an equivalent financial contribution will be sought to meet the costs of off site provision.

For on site provision (normally where three or more dwellings are proposed), the affordable housing statement needs to say how the affordable housing would be provided; the number of bedrooms, the anticipated tenure (e.g. social rented/shared equity) and details of any Registered Social Landlords acting as partners in the development.

In the case of two new dwellings or less the affordable housing statement should confirm that the applicant is willing to make a financial contribution towards off site provision, specifying the amount to be paid.

In all cases, the statement should include the relevant contact details of the applicant’s solicitors and copies of the current land registry titles. This will help the Authority to draft the necessary section 106 agreement and thereby minimise delays in the determination of the application.

Policy reference

Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) Housing (November 2006)

New Forest District Local Plan First Alteration – Policies AH-2 and NF-H8

Salisbury District Council – Policy H26

Test Valley Borough Council - Policy ESN05