Supplementary planning policy guidance

Supplementary planning policy guidance

Affordable housing is an issue that affects everyone in East Renfrewshire.

House prices are high in our area and we simply do not have enough social housing or low-cost ownership homes to cater for people who cannot afford high prices but who want to live, and, in many cases, continue to live, in this area.

Affordable housing is a particular issue for our young people and for our older residents and the council is committed to working with our own housing service, planners and developers, house builders and social and private landlords to ensure that we work towards the goal of all of our residents being able to access affordable and quality homes, regardless of their post code or personal circumstances.

I commend this strategy to you as part of our drive to ensure that our affordable housing agenda is pursued with vigour and effect and to ensure that we plan for our future housing supply in East Renfrewshire with the specific needs of all of our residents, and, especially, with the concept of affordable housing to the fore as a basic human justice issue.

Councillor Eddie Philips

Convener for the Environment

First Revision, November 2008

The Council’s Supplementary Planning Policy Guidance (SPPG) on Affordable Housing was approved by the Council on 19th January 2006 and has been taken into considerations in the determination of planning applications for residential development from that date..  

In considering and scrutinising the SPPG it became apparent that the wording of paragraph 5.14 required to be changed so that it is consistent with Scottish Executive Planning Advice Note 74 (PAN 74).  

The Council carried out a consultation exercise on proposed new wording for paragraph 5.14 of the 2006 SPPG from May to July 2008.  The proposed wording was then amended to take account of a number of points raised through the consultation process.  The Council approved the amended wording for paragraph 5.14 in October 2008.  This 2008 first revision replaces the 2006 SPPG.  

The Council also approved in October 2008 the proposal that a full update of the SPPG be carried out.  This update will be informed by:

• The responses received to the recently Finalised Local Plan (consultation closed on 4th November 2008)

• An update of the Council’s Housing Needs Assessment (completion due January/February 2009).

• Recent changes to the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan

• Recent government guidance.

It is therefore proposed that the update is commenced in early 2009 and will be carried out in accordance with PAN 74.  The Council will carry out a full consultation on the updated SPPG, inviting comment from the development industry, partner organisations, members of the public and other interested parties.

This First Revision therefore only amends the wording of paragraph 5.14 and changes contact details, pending a full update in 2009