Object

Representation ID: 22807

Received: 16/03/2020

Respondent: Peter Rudd

Agent: Pegasus Planning Group

Policy 5 requires 'at least' 33% affordable housing across the plan area and 'at least' 28% in Norwich City Centre. However, the evidence base for this (SHMA) suggests a lower figure, which it identifies as 28% of the identified housing requirement at that time. As that housing requirement has increased, it follows that the proportion of affordable housing needed across the Greater Norwich will be less than 28%. In the absence of any updated assessment, there seems to be a serious lack of evidence to justify a higher figure across the wider plan area, which raises significant concerns about the appropriateness of the strategy of not considering alternatives to this policy requirement. To rectify this, the affordable housing requirement should be reduced to reflect the available evidence.

Finally, the inclusion of the words ‘at least’ before the percentage requirement of affordable housing should be omitted as it raises expectations that this is the minimum figure that will be delivered on sites. Where there are site specific reasons for delivery of a lower percentage of affordable housing planning officers would have less flexibility to make a planning judgement taking into other material considerations if there is no amendment to the wording of Policy 5.