Neighbourhood Planning and Housing Sarah Sapsford Community Engagement Manager RCCE (Rural Community Council of Essex)

Neighbourhood Planning & Housing Locally created plans, setting out planning objectives and land use policies; Cannot plan for less development than the local development Plan; Plans must be based on evidence; SHMA; National/District Policies; Housing Needs survey/assessment. •Around 2,200 groups have started a neighbourhood plan since 2012 •410 successful referendums have taken place with an average ‘yes’ vote of 88% And development of land

Neighbourhood Planning & Housing Plans Can guide where development should be and what is appropriate; Can encourage good design & how new developments ‘sits’ within the village; Involves the community in decision making; Can lead to Community Led Housing projects; 1. and include design policies and housing standards. Design policies may prevent poor design and lift quality generally, According to the Further information and guidance was set out in a previous report (PPWG, 27 July 2015, item 8). 2. but can’t require exemplar or innovative developments. General conformity with LDP, NPPF and in accordance with EU laws; Community involvement; Work with the Local Authority; Can be a way of taking control of- Design process and construction and housing management; More creative approaches.

Top Topics for Neighbourhood Plans Promote local distinctiveness Pedestrian and cycle routes Parking standards Scale, density, height etc Affordable housing Designate local green space New provision of recreation spaces Housing sites Encouraging new employment sites Trees, woodland

Neighbourhood Planning & Housing Housing issues facing rural communities include: Housing for local people; Sustainability of the community or facilities; Affordability. How a Neighbourhood Plan can address housing issues: Through the Vision; Through Objectives; Through the creation and use of Policies. Action plan or projects Young people, aging population, lack of balance in housing stock Can’t deal with service provision unless through planning system;

Neighbourhood Plans & Housing Woodcote NP Vision Public workshops and consultation events Household questionaire HNS (ORCC) SODC housing register, previous CLP’s and estate agents

Woodcote Neighbourhood Plan Goal – To provide existing and future residents with the opportunity to live in a decent home Objectives of the plan

Woodcote Neighbourhood Plan

Woodcote Neighbourhood Plan Greater community support for new homes; More smaller homes; Achieved higher proportion of part rent/part buy than local plan – Produced green space benefits incl: gift of woodland attached to development site Enabled those with a strong local connection access to affordable and open-market homes; Enabled constructive discussion and working relationship between PC and developers; Improved LPA and community relations; Upskilled the community in planning matters. The NP detailed development of over 70 new homes, since being made 14 new homes on the site of a derelict bus depot. Dr Geoff Botting, Vice Chair Woodcote PC detailed key (positive) outcomes of the NP; Converted outright opposition to new homes to a high level of support for homes community want and need –  protecting the vitality of the community Already produced new smaller homes, more accessible to young people and young families Achieved a higher proportion of part rent- part buy than allowed under the local plan – something that helps young families to accumulate capital Produced green space benefits by not only protecting the AONB but also a gift of woodland attached to bus depot site (to parish as amenity space) Enabled those with need & strong local connection to have preferred access to some of the affordable homes and all of the open-market homes Brought the developers and PC together and supported constructive discussion about proposed development to better meet community’s needs and wants Brought the LPA and the community together: in past distant and mutual distrust, suspicion and frustration Upskilled the community in planning matters so more constructive contributor to the development of local plans.

Boxted Neighbourhood Plan POLICY HF1: HILL FARM SITE - Development of the Hill Farm site, will be permitted provided it complies with the following: It shall deliver a residential scheme at a density that respects the surrounding built-up area and its rural setting. It shall provide the following mix of residential properties: For market housing - at least 25% of the market properties delivered should be 1-2 bed properties and at least 25% should be 3-bed properties unless up-to-date published evidence of housing needs suggests otherwise. For affordable housing – at least three no. 1-bed properties and at least two no. 2-bed properties in line with the Boxted Affordable Housing Needs Survey. This requirement may change if a subsequent Parish Affordable Housing Needs Survey identifies an alternative level and mix of local affordable housing need.

Lavenham Neighbourhood Plan Objectives 5.1 The purpose of this plan is to make Lavenham a more sustainable community and to formulate and define the policies that are required to achieve this. 5.2 Investment in more affordable housing for younger people will be the main driver of this and, as the total population increases, the community will become more sustainable with a larger proportion of working age people with young families.

Lavenham Neighbourhood Plan Policy H3: Affordable Housing; In order to facilitate a cohesive community, affordable housing must be designed to be integral to the development as a whole. Residential proposals which do not meet Babergh’s affordable housing requirement of 35% will only be supported if the proposals are justified by an open book assessment of viability.

Lavenham Neighbourhood Plan Affordable Housing Delivery It is envisaged that some affordable housing will also be delivered through the Community Land Trust which the Parish Council has been instrumental in forming in partnership with Babergh District Council and Hastoe Housing Association. A general invitation has been made to land owners to submit details of sites that may be suitable for inclusion in the Trust. One such site which has already come forward is the Suffolk County Council gritting site adjacent to Harwood Place. This has been offered on the basis that it should be included in the CLT and available for local need housing.

Community Led Housing No ‘one size fits all’ with Community Led Housing; With a developer, Housing Association, land owner, or alone; Set up a Community Land Trust; Set up a Co-housing group; Work with Housing Associations/Charitable Trusts; Almshouses; Community self build. Community-led development is not just about housing. The Neighbourhood Plan requires a minimum of 20% of the total number of affordable homes on each housing site to be delivered and controlled by a Winslow Community Land Trust, or equivalent body, for which an appropriate lettings policy will be agreed between the Trust and the District Council. For the 80% general affordable homes, the adopted Aylesbury Vale Local Lettings Policy for the Winslow area will apply. It can enable more creative approaches. Community-led development is not just about housing. Indeed, considering housing in isolation will limit the chances of realising an area’s potential.