Planning minister Brandon Lewis has written to English councils asking them to be flexible and pragmatic when asked by developers to renegotiate affordable housing delivery.<\/u><\/p>\n
Planning Portal writes:
\n<\/u>In the letter Lewis voiced concerns that, following a government announcement that social rents will be reduced from 2016-17, schemes for the development of housing association properties \u2018are not being built out at the anticipated rate\u2019.<\/p>\n
The minister predicted developers would be approaching councils to renegotiate section 106 agreements to adjust the type of affordable housing provision.<\/p>\n
He urged local authorities \u2018to respond constructively, rapidly and positively to requests for such renegotiations and to take a pragmatic and proportionate approach to viability\u2019.<\/p>\n
Lewis said the \u2018minimum amount of viability information necessary\u2019 should be sought where developers proposed a reduction in affordable housing contributions. He said proposals to change the mix of tenures provided without reducing the overall affordable housing contribution were unlikely to warrant new viability assessments.<\/p>\n
He also recommended that section 106 agreements should be drafted to allow for \u2018the delivery of alternative forms of affordable housing if this becomes necessary\u2019.<\/p>\n
The minister said officials would be contacting councils to gauge the extent of renegotiations and what action was being taken.<\/p>\n
See the letter<\/a><\/p>\n Read more<\/a> on Planning Portal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Planning minister Brandon Lewis has written to English councils asking them to be flexible and pragmatic when asked by developers to renegotiate affordable housing delivery. Planning Portal writes: In the letter Lewis voiced concerns that, following a government announcement that … Continue reading