Clerk: Mrs. L Rampton

Parish Council Office,

Winscombe Community Centre,

11 Sandford Road, Winscombe,

North Somerset BS25 1JA

Tel: 01934 844257   Fax: 01934 844292

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Notes of the Affordable Housing Working Party Meeting

held on Tuesday 30th September 2008, 10.30am.

 

Present: Mr S Bridges (SB), Mr. R Jones (RJ), Mr G Luckett (GLu), Mrs A Richmond (AR), Mr M Williamson (MW),

Ms L Davidson (LD) English Rural Housing Association, Mr R Mead (RM) Summerfield, Mrs L Rampton  (Clerk)       

 

 

*                   Apologies for absence were received from Mr C Sampson

*              LD advised the working party that Planning Policy Department at NSC had ‘signed off’ and agreed the ‘Housing Needs Survey’ accepted by the Parish Council following consultation with the entire Parish early 2008.

*              From this consultation with Winscombe & Sandford Parishioners, a need for over 100 Affordable homes had been identified.

*              Development Control Planning Officer Neil Underhay has been assigned to the allocation of Affordable Housing within this Parish and has subsequently compiled a prioritisation list, in the first instance for LD from the sequential site survey submitted to NSC in June 2008. From the seventeen sites identified for possible consideration, four have been chosen by NSC for initial further investigation. Some sites originally indicated within the survey were considered to be remote from the Parish/village centre and others had considerations regarding highway issues, water and wild life protection.

*              No land owners have agreed to the sale & purchase of land at this stage.

*              It was considered the best method to start to address this issue was by the provision of a number of small developments around the Parish consisting of around 15/25 homes/apartments. These could be instigated over a number of years in a sequential process.

*              The current downturn in the housing market is not likely to accelerate any affordable housing scheme for this Parish with more labour becoming available, but in the longer term may mean that labour costs are reduced. The speed of delivery of affordable housing in the village will be dictated by the availability of sites.  Only sensible sums of monies are loaned by lenders to those on such a scheme

*              English Rural HA is proposing a partnership with Summerfield Developments to provide a wider range of affordable housing tenures for the parish.  Summerfield have developed a discounted open market housing product for rural areas called ‘ My Home’, which is successful in Somerset.

*              Options for the purchase/rent of homes were detailed for the benefit of the group. (1) Myhome scheme offered by a developer would enable a buyer to purchase the home outright but at, say 70% of current market value. Covenants would be contained within the title deeds only allowing resale of the home at the same percentage therefore ensuring the home stays as affordable housing in perpetuity. (2) Shared Ownership where a variable amount of the property may be purchased with the remainder being retained by the housing association.  Unlike other associations, English Rural does not charge rent on the unsold equity. This scheme allows the buyer to purchase an additional share in the property at a future date, up to a maximum of 80% ensuring the property remains as affordable housing in perpetuity.(3) Rent to Buy would allow those that cannot afford to purchase a home at present to rent initially from the Housing Association, with an option to purchase on shared ownership terms at a later date. (4) Rent of the property from the Housing Association at affordable rates.

*              Affordable Housing in this Parish will be local homes for local people and properties may not be rented out by the owner or sub-let by the tenant.

*              A stakeholder meeting would be held at an early stage prior to public consultation.

*              Further more detailed consultation with the wider community will take place with the results of this supporting any planning application.

*              The Parish Council will have input as to the tenure of the development and sight of applicants.

*              A local connection criteria will be laid down in the planning agreement.

*              One site identified by NSC for further investigation could be available for a scheme of this nature & tentative talks with owners of the remaining three parcels of land will be instigated by ERHA.

*             DUE TO THE SENSATIVE NATURE OF THIS SCHEME, INFORMATION SHOULD REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL WITHIN THE PARISH COUNCIL WHILST INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING LAND ARE MADE AND CONSULTATION CARRIED OUT WITH CLOSE NEIGHBOURS.