Agenda item

The Case Officer (Service Delivery) and a representative from Stonewater (Housing Provide) gave a presentation on affordable housing in South Somerset. With the aid of a powerpoint presentation and short video, they provided information about the following:

·         Types of Housing Need – expressed and hidden.

·         The Annual Local Housing Figure for South Somerset was 725 homes a year, of which 206 should be for affordable housing.

·         Figures for registered housing need in South Somerset by band and bed size.

·         Expressed need in Area North, as identified by Homefinder was 313.

·         How affordable housing linked to the Local Plan and Council Plan.

·         The Rural Lettings Framework helped to ensure that vacancies in rural areas are advertised with a local connection criteria.

·         Support regarding Community Land Trusts (CLT) within South Somerset and work closely with Wessex Community Assets.

·         Grant funding was still available for housing needs surveys, planning feasibility studies and Community Land Trusts.

·         A Stonewater case example – Orchid Acre Close in Stoke Sub Hamdon.

·         Nominations for design awards (Stonewater).

·         Different types of construction.

·         The current development programme for 2020/21, including a breakdown of tenure and ownership

·         Myths regarding the need and allocation of affordable housing.

During discussion the officers responded to points of detail, and some of their comments included:

·         Estimates of funds remaining in the grants budget.

·         On mixed tenure developments, Stonewater would have an input in to the design of the affordable housing element, and it was an important consideration.

·         There were occasionally issues when Housing Associations worked with Community Land Triusts (CLT), but his was often due to specific elements of individual schemes.

·         Decisions about who would get a property were normally based on the applicant’s Homefinder band and how long they had been on the waiting list. Applicants needed to have a connection the district in order to be accepted on to Homefinder.

·         Further information about the principles of Passivhaus.regarding windows and airflow.

·         Acknowledge plans to cease installation of gas boilers in new homes in the future, and Stonewater were currently evaluating installation of electric heating.

·         Information and examples about small grants available from Stonewater.

At the conclusion of the item, the Chairman thanked the officers for their informative presentation and for attending the meeting.