Housing SPD

In July 2018 the council adopted a new Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on Housing for the determination of planning applications from 1 August 2018. The Housing Supplementary Planning Document has been produced to expand upon the housing policies in the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Local Plan (2011-2029). It comprises a number of individual chapters relating to: affordable housing; housing mix for market housing; housing for older people and those in need of care; and self-build and custom housebuilding. The SPD replaces old guidance including the Affordable Housing SPD (2007) and the Housing Mix and Mobility Standards SPD (2007) which have been withdrawn.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was revised after the adoption of the Housing SPD. The NPPF is an important material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

The NPPF (2019) updates the threshold for the size of planning applications that can provide affordable housing. It requires that affordable housing 'should not be sought for residential developments that are not major developments, other than in designated rural areas'. Major development, for housing, is defined as developments of 10 or more homes, or sites with an area of 0.5ha or more.

The council will therefore apply these thresholds in the determination of planning applications. Table 2.1 in the SPD is therefore superseded, and the council will apply the thresholds set out below:

Dwellings (net)	Site area	Affordable housing requirement
1-4	<0.5ha	No affordable
1-4	>0.5ha	Equivalent off-site contribution
5-9 outside AONB	<0.5ha	No affordable
5-9 in AONB	<0.5ha	On-site provision
5-9	>0.5ha	On-site provision
10+	All	On-site provision

Table 2.1 Site size thresholds for affordable housing

The NPPF also changes the definition of affordable housing. This supersedes the definition set out in SPD Appendix 2.1. You can view the new definition outlined on Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

The council is also requiring First Homes to be provided as part of the affordable housing. You can view the council’s First Homes Interim Policy Statement.