Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)  - Consultation Draft - September 2022

(5) 1. Introduction

What is a Supplementary Planning Document?

1.1 Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) are intended to explain or provide further detail to policies or site allocations in a Local Plan document. They cand take the form of design guides, area development briefs, master plans or issue-based documents. They will be used in deciding planning applications and will help the Council defend its decisions at appeals.

1.2 The planning policies adopted by Colchester Borough Council enable the Council to ask developers to provide affordable housing on site or make a financial contribution towards it. The purpose of this SPD is to give clear guidance on the Council's expectations for the provision of affordable housing and the process for delivering this.

1.3 This SPD will have the status of a material consideration in the determination of planning applications, once adopted by the Council following public consultation.

1.4 The SPD does not contain any new policies but provides detailed guidance to supplement polices in the Local Plan and the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in July 2021.

1.5 The aim of this document is to help guide the delivery of affordable housing in Colchester which will help to meet the strategic vision and objectives of the Colchester Local Plan by supporting the creation of a sustainable long-term future for communities.

1.6 This SPD will replace the Colchester Borough Council Affordable Housing SPD, August 2011.

Public Consultation

1.7 In accordance with the Government guidance in the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004, Regulation 18, and the Council's Statement of Community Involvement; the SPD will be the subject of public consultation for a period of six weeks. The consultation for this will run from: Thursday 20 October to Friday 2 December 2022.

1.8 Responses can be sent to the Council via:

• email to: planning.policy@colchester.gov.uk
• post to: Planning Policy, Colchester Borough Council, Colchester Town Hall, High Street, CO1 1PJ

All consultation responses must be received no later than 5pm on 2 December 2022. If you have any questions about the consultation, please contact the Planning Policy Team via planning.policy@colchester.gov.uk

If you would like this document in an alternative format such as large print, braille or another language please contact the Planning Policy Team.

1.9 Following this consultation, the final version of the document will be amended and presented for consideration of the Local Plan Committee before adoption.

Sustainability Appraisal

1.10 A Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Report has been prepared for the Local Plan which appraises the policies this supplementary guidance relates to. This can be viewed online.

1.11 An SEA Screening Opinion and Habitats Regulations Screening has been undertaken for this SPD. These opinions can also be viewed online.