Affordable Housing and Development
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council have an integrated Strategic Housing Team based at Mid Suffolk District Council Offices in Needham Market.
Where can I find information about the Combs Lane Compulsory Purchase Order?
The Combs Lane Inspector's Report and the Combs Lane Decision Letter can be downloaded using the links below.
More information on Where can I find information about the Combs Lane Compulsory Purchase Order?
What is affordable housing?
Affordable housing is housing that is provided for people on lower incomes who are unable to meet their housing needs within the general housing market. Affordable housing is provided by local authorities and Registered Providers (RPs) and is owned by a Registered Provider (RP), normally a housing association, and rented at a weekly rent that is more affordable than the private rented sector.
What is shared ownership?
Shared ownership homes are partly purchased by the resident and partly owned by the housing association, the resident will then pay rent on the part owned by the housing association. There are a number of shared ownership products available. For more information visit the Orbit Homebuy Agent's website at www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk (opens new window).
More information on What is shared ownership?
What is a rural exception site?
Rural exception sites are developments adjoining the settlement boundary of a village or within villages with no settlement boundaries where residential development is permitted as an exception to normal planning policy. These type of sites are only to be used for affordable housing. The number of units provided on a rural exception site will be based on information from a Local Housing Needs Survey.
What are the affordable housing thresholds?
Babergh District Council's Local Plan Policy HS08 requires that developers must provide up to 35% affordable housing for sites with a site size threshold of 0.5 hectares, capable of accommodating at least 15 dwellings (including renewal of permissions) in the Council’s opinion, or on allocated sites listed in Local Plan Policy HS08. Affordable housing will be negotiated on sites that can accommodate 3 dwellings or more (in the Council's opinion).
Mid Suffolk District Council’s Local Plan Amended Policy H4 requires that developers must provide up to 35% affordable housing on all sites larger than a given threshold (sites of 15 dwellings or more or sites of 0.5 hectare and above in Stowmarket and Needham Market, or sites of 5 dwellings or more or sites of 0.17 hectare and above in the remainder of Mid Suffolk). More information on What are the affordable housing thresholds?
What is a housing needs survey?
A Housing Needs Survey (HNS) is commissioned and produced on a district wide basis and provides accurate local information to support new housing developments. They identify the need for affordable housing in both districts over the next five years, taking into account the existing backlog of unmet need, and newly arising need. This includes details of the accommodation required by type, size, tenure and affordability and tell us about people’s income. More information on What is a housing needs survey?
What is a local housing needs survey?
A local housing needs survey (LHNS) is specific research carried out to establish the housing need for a parish or groups of parishes. Survey work is normally carried out by a housing enabler from Suffolk ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) in partnership with the parish council. A postal survey using a questionnaire is carried out for all households being surveyed and the results are then analysed and a report is published. The affordable housing need identified is then used to look for suitable development sites. A Guide for Parish Councils exists for both Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils. More information on What is a local housing needs survey?
What is a commuted sum and how is it calculated?
The Local Plan requires developers to provide up to 35% affordable housing on all sites larger than a given threshold. When a planning application triggers an affordable housing contribution, the presumption is that this should be provided on the application site wherever possible. There are however, some circumstances where this may not be possible, and the policy allows for off-site provision in the form of completed homes on an alternative, suitable site in the district. If this too is impracticable, a commuted sum may be agreed whereby a sum is paid by the developer towards the equivalent provision of affordable housing on another site.
A commuted sum is calculated on the cost of providing the affordable home(s), and as such includes the cost of a suitable building plot(s); the cost of building the dwelling(s); the management cost of administering the commuted sum; less the cost to a Registered Provider (RP) for securing a mortgage/loan to provide the unit(s).
Both Councils currently use the Three Dragons Viability Toolkit to calculate the commuted sum figure. This will be reviewed over the next twelve months. More information on What is a commuted sum and how is it calculated?
The Combs Lane Inspector's Report and the Combs Lane Decision Letter can be downloaded using the links below.
More information on Where can I find information about the Combs Lane Compulsory Purchase Order?Affordable housing is housing that is provided for people on lower incomes who are unable to meet their housing needs within the general housing market. Affordable housing is provided by local authorities and Registered Providers (RPs) and is owned by a Registered Provider (RP), normally a housing association, and rented at a weekly rent that is more affordable than the private rented sector.
What is shared ownership?
Shared ownership homes are partly purchased by the resident and partly owned by the housing association, the resident will then pay rent on the part owned by the housing association. There are a number of shared ownership products available. For more information visit the Orbit Homebuy Agent's website at www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk (opens new window).
More information on What is shared ownership?
What is a rural exception site?
Rural exception sites are developments adjoining the settlement boundary of a village or within villages with no settlement boundaries where residential development is permitted as an exception to normal planning policy. These type of sites are only to be used for affordable housing. The number of units provided on a rural exception site will be based on information from a Local Housing Needs Survey.
What are the affordable housing thresholds?
Babergh District Council's Local Plan Policy HS08 requires that developers must provide up to 35% affordable housing for sites with a site size threshold of 0.5 hectares, capable of accommodating at least 15 dwellings (including renewal of permissions) in the Council’s opinion, or on allocated sites listed in Local Plan Policy HS08. Affordable housing will be negotiated on sites that can accommodate 3 dwellings or more (in the Council's opinion).
Mid Suffolk District Council’s Local Plan Amended Policy H4 requires that developers must provide up to 35% affordable housing on all sites larger than a given threshold (sites of 15 dwellings or more or sites of 0.5 hectare and above in Stowmarket and Needham Market, or sites of 5 dwellings or more or sites of 0.17 hectare and above in the remainder of Mid Suffolk). More information on What are the affordable housing thresholds?
What is a housing needs survey?
A Housing Needs Survey (HNS) is commissioned and produced on a district wide basis and provides accurate local information to support new housing developments. They identify the need for affordable housing in both districts over the next five years, taking into account the existing backlog of unmet need, and newly arising need. This includes details of the accommodation required by type, size, tenure and affordability and tell us about people’s income. More information on What is a housing needs survey?
What is a local housing needs survey?
A local housing needs survey (LHNS) is specific research carried out to establish the housing need for a parish or groups of parishes. Survey work is normally carried out by a housing enabler from Suffolk ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) in partnership with the parish council. A postal survey using a questionnaire is carried out for all households being surveyed and the results are then analysed and a report is published. The affordable housing need identified is then used to look for suitable development sites. A Guide for Parish Councils exists for both Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils. More information on What is a local housing needs survey?
What is a commuted sum and how is it calculated?
The Local Plan requires developers to provide up to 35% affordable housing on all sites larger than a given threshold. When a planning application triggers an affordable housing contribution, the presumption is that this should be provided on the application site wherever possible. There are however, some circumstances where this may not be possible, and the policy allows for off-site provision in the form of completed homes on an alternative, suitable site in the district. If this too is impracticable, a commuted sum may be agreed whereby a sum is paid by the developer towards the equivalent provision of affordable housing on another site.
A commuted sum is calculated on the cost of providing the affordable home(s), and as such includes the cost of a suitable building plot(s); the cost of building the dwelling(s); the management cost of administering the commuted sum; less the cost to a Registered Provider (RP) for securing a mortgage/loan to provide the unit(s).
Both Councils currently use the Three Dragons Viability Toolkit to calculate the commuted sum figure. This will be reviewed over the next twelve months. More information on What is a commuted sum and how is it calculated?
Shared ownership homes are partly purchased by the resident and partly owned by the housing association, the resident will then pay rent on the part owned by the housing association. There are a number of shared ownership products available. For more information visit the Orbit Homebuy Agent's website at www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk (opens new window).
More information on What is shared ownership?Rural exception sites are developments adjoining the settlement boundary of a village or within villages with no settlement boundaries where residential development is permitted as an exception to normal planning policy. These type of sites are only to be used for affordable housing. The number of units provided on a rural exception site will be based on information from a Local Housing Needs Survey.
What are the affordable housing thresholds?
Babergh District Council's Local Plan Policy HS08 requires that developers must provide up to 35% affordable housing for sites with a site size threshold of 0.5 hectares, capable of accommodating at least 15 dwellings (including renewal of permissions) in the Council’s opinion, or on allocated sites listed in Local Plan Policy HS08. Affordable housing will be negotiated on sites that can accommodate 3 dwellings or more (in the Council's opinion).
Mid Suffolk District Council’s Local Plan Amended Policy H4 requires that developers must provide up to 35% affordable housing on all sites larger than a given threshold (sites of 15 dwellings or more or sites of 0.5 hectare and above in Stowmarket and Needham Market, or sites of 5 dwellings or more or sites of 0.17 hectare and above in the remainder of Mid Suffolk). More information on What are the affordable housing thresholds?
What is a housing needs survey?
A Housing Needs Survey (HNS) is commissioned and produced on a district wide basis and provides accurate local information to support new housing developments. They identify the need for affordable housing in both districts over the next five years, taking into account the existing backlog of unmet need, and newly arising need. This includes details of the accommodation required by type, size, tenure and affordability and tell us about people’s income. More information on What is a housing needs survey?
What is a local housing needs survey?
A local housing needs survey (LHNS) is specific research carried out to establish the housing need for a parish or groups of parishes. Survey work is normally carried out by a housing enabler from Suffolk ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) in partnership with the parish council. A postal survey using a questionnaire is carried out for all households being surveyed and the results are then analysed and a report is published. The affordable housing need identified is then used to look for suitable development sites. A Guide for Parish Councils exists for both Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils. More information on What is a local housing needs survey?
What is a commuted sum and how is it calculated?
The Local Plan requires developers to provide up to 35% affordable housing on all sites larger than a given threshold. When a planning application triggers an affordable housing contribution, the presumption is that this should be provided on the application site wherever possible. There are however, some circumstances where this may not be possible, and the policy allows for off-site provision in the form of completed homes on an alternative, suitable site in the district. If this too is impracticable, a commuted sum may be agreed whereby a sum is paid by the developer towards the equivalent provision of affordable housing on another site.
A commuted sum is calculated on the cost of providing the affordable home(s), and as such includes the cost of a suitable building plot(s); the cost of building the dwelling(s); the management cost of administering the commuted sum; less the cost to a Registered Provider (RP) for securing a mortgage/loan to provide the unit(s).
Both Councils currently use the Three Dragons Viability Toolkit to calculate the commuted sum figure. This will be reviewed over the next twelve months. More information on What is a commuted sum and how is it calculated?
Babergh District Council's Local Plan Policy HS08 requires that developers must provide up to 35% affordable housing for sites with a site size threshold of 0.5 hectares, capable of accommodating at least 15 dwellings (including renewal of permissions) in the Council’s opinion, or on allocated sites listed in Local Plan Policy HS08. Affordable housing will be negotiated on sites that can accommodate 3 dwellings or more (in the Council's opinion).
Mid Suffolk District Council’s Local Plan Amended Policy H4 requires that developers must provide up to 35% affordable housing on all sites larger than a given threshold (sites of 15 dwellings or more or sites of 0.5 hectare and above in Stowmarket and Needham Market, or sites of 5 dwellings or more or sites of 0.17 hectare and above in the remainder of Mid Suffolk).
More information on What are the affordable housing thresholds?
A Housing Needs Survey (HNS) is commissioned and produced on a district wide basis and provides accurate local information to support new housing developments. They identify the need for affordable housing in both districts over the next five years, taking into account the existing backlog of unmet need, and newly arising need. This includes details of the accommodation required by type, size, tenure and affordability and tell us about people’s income. More information on What is a housing needs survey?
What is a local housing needs survey?
A local housing needs survey (LHNS) is specific research carried out to establish the housing need for a parish or groups of parishes. Survey work is normally carried out by a housing enabler from Suffolk ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) in partnership with the parish council. A postal survey using a questionnaire is carried out for all households being surveyed and the results are then analysed and a report is published. The affordable housing need identified is then used to look for suitable development sites. A Guide for Parish Councils exists for both Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils. More information on What is a local housing needs survey?
What is a commuted sum and how is it calculated?
The Local Plan requires developers to provide up to 35% affordable housing on all sites larger than a given threshold. When a planning application triggers an affordable housing contribution, the presumption is that this should be provided on the application site wherever possible. There are however, some circumstances where this may not be possible, and the policy allows for off-site provision in the form of completed homes on an alternative, suitable site in the district. If this too is impracticable, a commuted sum may be agreed whereby a sum is paid by the developer towards the equivalent provision of affordable housing on another site.
A commuted sum is calculated on the cost of providing the affordable home(s), and as such includes the cost of a suitable building plot(s); the cost of building the dwelling(s); the management cost of administering the commuted sum; less the cost to a Registered Provider (RP) for securing a mortgage/loan to provide the unit(s).
Both Councils currently use the Three Dragons Viability Toolkit to calculate the commuted sum figure. This will be reviewed over the next twelve months. More information on What is a commuted sum and how is it calculated?
A local housing needs survey (LHNS) is specific research carried out to establish the housing need for a parish or groups of parishes. Survey work is normally carried out by a housing enabler from Suffolk ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) in partnership with the parish council. A postal survey using a questionnaire is carried out for all households being surveyed and the results are then analysed and a report is published. The affordable housing need identified is then used to look for suitable development sites. A Guide for Parish Councils exists for both Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils. More information on What is a local housing needs survey?
The Local Plan requires developers to provide up to 35% affordable housing on all sites larger than a given threshold. When a planning application triggers an affordable housing contribution, the presumption is that this should be provided on the application site wherever possible. There are however, some circumstances where this may not be possible, and the policy allows for off-site provision in the form of completed homes on an alternative, suitable site in the district. If this too is impracticable, a commuted sum may be agreed whereby a sum is paid by the developer towards the equivalent provision of affordable housing on another site.
A commuted sum is calculated on the cost of providing the affordable home(s), and as such includes the cost of a suitable building plot(s); the cost of building the dwelling(s); the management cost of administering the commuted sum; less the cost to a Registered Provider (RP) for securing a mortgage/loan to provide the unit(s).
Both Councils currently use the Three Dragons Viability Toolkit to calculate the commuted sum figure. This will be reviewed over the next twelve months.
More information on What is a commuted sum and how is it calculated?
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Contact Details
Strategic Housing
Mid Suffolk District Council
131 High Street
Needham Market
Ipswich
IP6 8DL
Email:Strategic.Housing@midsuffolk.gov.uk
Telephone: 01449 724782
Fax: 01449 724727
Additional information
SMS Text Mobile: 07827 842833 (please note the SMS Text Mobile number replaces the old Minicom system for customers with hearing difficulties)