Affordable housing viability assessment

The purpose of the Affordable Housing Viability Assessment (PDF) [4MB] is to undertake a strategic assessment of the viability of a range of housing developments that will inform planning and housing policy.

The Affordable Housing Viability Assessment Appendices (PDF) [6MB] provide additional policy context and details of sensitivity testing.
 

Policy

The Uttlesford Local Plan 2005 Policy H9 sets a target of 40% affordable housing on appropriate allocated and windfall sites. A site size threshold of 0.5 hectares or of 15 dwellings applies.

This has regard to:

• the up to date housing needs survey
• market conditions
• site considerations
   

Update assessment

In 2012 we requested that Levvel undertake an 'update' of the 2010 Affordable Housing Viability Assessment in order to:

• assess how current market conditions compare with the upside, middle or downside market scenarios assessed in the 2010 study
• provide commentary on the potential impact on development viability of the introduction of the 2011-2015 Affordable Homes Programme - Framework and the associated changes to Annex B of Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing June 2011
• provide commentary on the impact of the National Planning Policy Statement published on the 27 March 2012
• provide commentary on the changes to the definition of zero carbon homes, announced in May 2011 and the associated potential impact upon the likely costs associated with the mandatory requirement for all residential dwellings to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 in 2016

The Affordable Housing Viability Update (PDF) [360KB]   was published in March 2012.