South Holland Affordable Housing Policy

South Holland has a joint Local Plan with Boston Borough Council and Lincolnshire Borough Council, this being the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan 2011-2036 (adopted March 2019). It sets out that it will “shape the growth of Boston Borough and South Holland District for future generations”.

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Policy 18 of the Local Plan sets out the expectations regarding affordable housing each area, this can be seen below:

Policy 18: Affordable Housing In South East Lincolnshire, the identified need for affordable housing is as follows: Boston Borough: Approximately 263 new affordable dwellings per year, which is over 80% of the total annual housing need. South Holland: Approximately 282 new affordable dwellings per year, about 60% of the total annual housing need. Affordable housing will be sought on: Market housing sites of 11 or more dwellings, or Residential developments with an internal floor area of 1,000 sqm or more with a...

requirement of: i. about 20% being affordable housing on sites in Boston Borough; and ii. about 25% being affordable housing on sites in South Holland; sites proposed by developers specifically for affordable housing; and Rural Exceptions Sites. The proportion of affordable housing that can be provided on market housing sites may vary according to the site specific considerations such as viability, other infrastructure requirements and the type of affordable housing need to be met. The following provision will be sought in each Local Planning Area: on sites in Boston Borough a mix of about 75% affordable for rent and about 25% intermediate housing for sale; and on sites in South Holland District a mix of about 70% affordable for rent and about 30% intermediate housing for sale. Affordable for rent may include social rented, affordable rented or intermediate rented and intermediate housing for sale may include shared ownership, shared equity and starter homes depending on the identified need. On site provision will be required. Where circumstances relating to the delivery of affordable housing make it impractical to deliver the affordable housing on site, developers will provide sound evidence to the Local Authority why on site provision cannot be achieved. Where such evidence is accepted by the Local Authority the developer will be expected to make equivalent off-site provision or a financial contribution to enable the need to be met elsewhere. In Boston Borough this will be elsewhere in the sub area in which the site is located (either: Boston, North/East Parishes or South/West Parishes). In South Holland elsewhere is anywhere within the District. As part of the mix of affordable housing, developments should also consider needs for specialist accommodation and how a site could contribute towards delivering them. This may include provision for affordable Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpersons pitches and plots in line with any needs identified in the latest Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment or Strategic Housing Market Assessment. This would include the needs of those communities who are identified either within or outside the Government’s definition set out in Planning Policy for Traveller Sites.

As seen above, there are different requirements based on which area the development is in.

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For residential schemes providing 11+ dwellings or more than 1,000m2 of internal floorspace, 20% will be sought as affordable housing in Boston Borough and 25% will be sought in South Holland. This will preferably be done on-site; however, if justified evidence is provided to the Local Authority as to why on-site affordable housing cannot be delivered, then an off-site provision or financial contribution could be accepted instead.

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However, the above policy is only relevant to developments providing 11+ dwellings or more than 1,000m2 of internal floorspace. Since this Local Plan was adopted, the NPPF identifies that - major developments - those of 10+ units or 0.5 hectares or more – should also be providing affordable housing. Therefore, in South Holland, affordable housing provision may be sought on residential development schemes of 10 or more dwellings, 0.5 hectares or more or more than 1,000m2 of internal floorspace.

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S106 Management recommend a site-specific viability assessment to be carried out on all developments of 10+dwellings in South Holland.

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In addition, there are provisions specifically for Rural Exception Sites (schemes that otherwise would not be consented in more isolated or rural areas but for provision of more than average affordable housing (generally 50-100%). Policy 19 provides further detail on this approach to development. S106 Management have significant experience assisting applicants on justifying the precise mix of open market to affordable housing through viability assessment on rural exception sites.

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South Holland Affordable Housing Policy

Community Infrastructure Levy

Three Rivers Affordable Housing Policy

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