Issue - meetings

This report reviews the current position on affordable housing policy in York and asks Members to agree that the information contained in the report be fed into the Local Development Forum policy review process.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the findings of the Affordable Housing Policy Review be noted.

                        (ii)        That the view that the most appropriate forum to understand, discuss and revise affordable housing policy in the City is through the LDF programme and, specifically, the preparation of the Core Strategy, be endorsed.

                        (iii)       That the information contained in the Affordable Housing Review report be fed into the LDF policy review process.

                        (iv)       That Officers be requested to arrange meetings at a senior level with developers, Housing Associations, professional agencies, commercial property companies and other relevant stakeholders, including Central Government, to consider how the City can provide more affordable housing for rent, for shared ownership, to buy, and also to explore other methods of delivering social and family housing.

REASON:      To maximise opportunities for providing more affordable, decent homes in York.

Members considered a report which reviewed the current position on affordable housing policy in York.  This review report had been specifically requested by Group Leaders, to examine ‘the availability of affordable and social housing and the effectiveness of the 50% affordability planning rule’.

The report:

• Set out the housing market assessment and strategic context for housing policy in City of York and the wider region;
• Looked at housing need, market demand and future growth in York;
• Reviewed wider initiatives to increase affordable housing supply;
• Tracked the effectiveness of the 50% target, approved in 2005;
• Considered recent and emerging applications for housing in York;
• Compared York’s performance with that of other, similar authorities;
• Discussed the role of the private developer in York;
• Considered the role of the Council and other public sector bodies as landowners;
• Set out the types of affordable housing needed in York;
• Highlighted the current statutory Local Development Framework (LDF) programme and identified this as the most appropriate vehicle to consider and, if necessary progress, any revisions to the policy.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the findings of the Affordable Housing Policy Review be noted.

                        (ii)        That the view that the most appropriate forum to understand, discuss and revise affordable housing policy in the City is through the LDF programme and, specifically, the preparation of the Core Strategy, be endorsed.

                        (iii)       That the information contained in the Affordable Housing Review report be fed into the LDF policy review process.¹

                        (iv)       That Officers be requested to arrange meetings at a senior level with developers, Housing Associations, professional agencies, commercial property companies and other relevant stakeholders, including Central Government, to consider how the City can provide more affordable housing for rent, for shared ownership, to buy, and also to explore other methods of delivering social and family housing.²

REASON:      To maximise opportunities for providing more affordable, decent homes in York.