Can YOU benefit from affordable housing

DEFINITIONS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Affordable Housing is a term applied to both low cost market housing for owner-occupiers and to housing for rent or shared ownership, which is subsidised by Government grant or by other means. It is provided for people in housing need – those who cannot afford to occupy housing generally available on the open market.

Housing for rent

Is provided by Housing Associations for people who cannot afford to buy outright and are in housing need. The homes are let at affordable rents on an assured tenancy.


Development by Wiltshire Rural Housing Society in The Breach, Bromham – houses for rent.


Shared ownership (New build Home buy)

Is suitable for people with regular income who want to buy a home but cannot afford to buy outright. Shared ownership allows you to buy a share of your home on a long lease and pay rent on the remaining share which is normally owned by a Housing Association. The lease details the rights and responsibilities of each party with regard to rent, repairs and other issues.

On certain properties, further shares may be purchased and it may be possible to eventually progress to outright ownership. Others (particularly in rural areas) restrict ownership ‘stair casing’ up to 80% of the whole value. This ensures that the property remains ‘affordable’ for future sales to someone with a local need.


Development by Signpost Housing in Clements Lane, Mere – houses for shared ownership.


Low cost market housing for rent or sale

Is provided when the land, development costs and / or available grants allow. Low cost market housing could allow you to own your property outright with a mortgage or rent at below market level. These schemes could involve a Housing Association who may retain some equity in the property assuring that future sales are provided for local people and that the overall mortgage you would require to pay would be less and remain ‘affordable’. This type of housing can be restricted to local people for the first and future sales. This restriction will reduce the value of the property, keeping it at an affordable level for local people. These properties help to create mixed and balanced communities. 


Parish Council Involvement

Where possible the Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) likes to work alongside Parish Councils to provide affordable housing for Wiltshire's villages.  Parish Councils often work with the Rural Housing Enabler to conduct Housing Needs Surveys, and in identifying suitable sites for affordable housing.  If you are a Parish Councillor or Parish Council Clerk and you'd like to arrange for  the RHE to talk to your parish council please email Carol at csouthall@communityfirst.org.uk or call: 01380 722475


Land Availability and Information for Landowners

The Community Council's Rural Housing Enabler works to deliver affordable housing in parishes where there is an identified need.  However, the availability of land is one of the most important issues affecting delivery of affordable housing to Wiltshire’s villages.  Most villages have little or no spare land available for building within the development boundary, or "planning line", as designated by the Local Authorities' Local Plan.  However, in rural areas, most local planning authorities operate what is known as an 'Exceptions site' policy. 
This allows planning permission to be granted on land outside, but adjacent to the development boundary for affordable housing for local people where there is an identified need (e.g. a need as 'identified' by a Housing Needs Survey carried out by the RHE).  This type of housing is usually secured by something called a Section 106 Agreement which will ensure that local people are given priority for any affordable housing built and that that housing remains affordable for local people in perpetuity. 


Example site in Sutton Veny, West Wilts


The amount of land required is usually quite small – possibly not even an acre (many affordable housing schemes in villages contain between 6 and 10 houses) and some landowners give land, recognising the long term benefit to the community of affordable housing for local people.  Others negotiate a price for the land with a Housing Association based on its value as an 'Exceptions site'. Prices really depend on the state of the site, the access issues and any services available. At this time the average prices are £5,000 per plot and £20,000 - £40,000 per acre. Obviously this will in general, be lower than that which might be paid for a piece of land inside the development boundary.
The 'Exceptions site' policy is one of the things which make affordable housing in villages possible.  Land outside the development boundary is usually agricultural land and has a much lower value than land designated inside the planning boundary for residential development. 

Please note:
Any land that is developed within the village planning boundary will need an element of affordable housing on it as per your District Councils’ policy.
Also – any affordable houses built within the village boundary are open to anyone from the housing register – it is only on exception sites that the allocations are to people with a local connection.
If you are a landowner (or Parish Council with some land) and are interested in finding out more about making a small piece of available for affordable housing please contact Carol csouthall@communityfirst.org.uk or call: 01380 722475