Issue - meetings

This report provides an overview of the two draft topic papers which have been prepared (housing and employment and economy) to assist with the formulation of the emerging Local Plan.

Recommendation:

That the Local Plan Sub-Committee note the contents of this report and agrees to publish the following evidence studies to the emerging Local Plan Evidence Base (online website):

 i.         South West Hertfordshire Local Housing Needs Assessment Update, produced by Iceni (Appendix 3)

ii.         South West Hertfordshire Economic Study, produced by Hatch (Appendix 4).

The Senior Planning Officer and Planning Officer (Policy) presented the draft Housing and Employment topic papers.  The Local Plan Sub-Committee was invited to note the contents and agree to publish Appendices 3 and 4 to the emerging Local Plan Evidence Base which could then be used by Development Management during decision-making.  The sub-committee heard that the topic papers were 'living' documents, which would be updated throughout the plan-making process in order to reflect updated evidence and changes to the policy context.

The Senior Planning Officer provided an overview of the Housing topic paper, including the policy context, historic housing supply, and current and future evidence base.  In relation to the findings of the Local Housing Need Assessment (LHNA), the following key points were highlighted:

·       Owner occupation was most prevalent tenure type across south-west Hertfordshire, with Three Rivers having the highest levels of home ownership in the sub-region at 72%.  Three Rivers had the lowest percentage of private rented dwellings across the subregion, as well as the second lowest percentage of socially rented dwellings.

·       Within Three Rivers, 3-bedroom dwellings were most common, followed by 4- bedroom+, 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom. The LHNA analysis suggested that the greatest growth in the total housing stock between 2011-21 had been in 4+ bed dwellings (reflecting trends in rises of extensions to properties).

·       The LHNA summarised that the standard method figures should be taken forward as providing an appropriate assessment of housing need.

·       The total affordable housing need per annum within Three Rivers was 527, split between 364 units for rented products and 163 home ownership units.  For Three Rivers to meet full affordable housing need, approximately 1317 dwellings would need to be delivered per annum (if 40% of all dwellings delivered were affordable housing products, in line with emerging policy).   The evidence from the study had suggested an increase in the discount from market value from 30% to potentially 40% in Three Rivers, given the high affordability issues in the District.  The LHNA had also set out a case for Local Plan policies which supported provision of a range of affordable home ownership products.

·       Given that all of the need was unlikely to be met, prioritisation of certain types of affordable housing was important.  The LHNA stated that “the evidence points to a clear and acute need for rented affordable housing for lower income households, and it is important that a supply of rented affordable housing is maintained to meet the needs of this group”. At a strategic level across south-west Herts, the LHNA recommended that 70% of affordable housing should be focused on rented provision, and 30% intermediate/low cost home ownership.

·       The LHNA had set out a recommended housing mix for both South West Herts and Three Rivers, in terms of different sizes and types of homes.  However, it was cautioned that these figures were not prescriptive, that demand could change over time, and other factors may influence the mix.

·       Hertfordshire County Council’s Strategy was to more strongly develop the provision  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54