Plans for 9,000 affordable Shropshire homes in jeopardy
Plans to build 9,000 affordable homes in Shropshire by 2026 could be jeopardised if the housing market remains stagnant, a new report has warned.
Shropshire Council is aiming to enable the building of thousands of new homes in the county, with 372 affordable new homes granted planning permission in the last two years.
But a report to council bosses have warned the overall target may have to be reviewed if the housing market does not improve.
The report, written by Andrew Evans, head of economic growth and prosperity at the council, is to be seen by members of the council cabinet at their meeting on Wednesday. It said:
"There is a risk that, should the housing market not improve sufficiently, affordable housing contributions will remain low for a prolonged period.
"If this occurs then the delivery of Shropshire Core Strategy policy CS1 for 9,000 new affordable homes over 2006 to 2026 will be jeopardised, requiring either a review of the Core
Strategy policy or a reassessment upwards of what is an 'appropriate contribution' in light of the increased supply of housing sites through the Site Allocations and Management of Development Plan."
The report is also recommending that the current target of 13 per cent of all new housing developments in the county being made up of affordable properties is altered to reflect the market in different parts of the county.
If the changes are approved, either areas would be provided with either 10 per cent, 15 per cent or 20 per cent of affordable housing in new developments.
The report said: "The level of affordable housing as a proportion of all housing development has been at the target rate of 13 per cent from April 1, 2011. This has resulted in legal agreements for £3.4 million of financial contributions towards affordable housing off-site and 372 affordable units on-site as part of planning permissions granted over the two years 2011 to 2013.
"The 2013 review suggests that the target rate should be lowered in the weaker housing markets in Shropshire, and raised by different degrees in the stronger housing market areas.
"Members' approval is sought to change the prevailing target rate to three geographically-based target rates, reflective of the 2013 viability study."
