Leeds City Council is advancing some changes to housing policy and practice which are linked to the forthcoming adoption of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and to the need to increase provision of affordable housing in Leeds to address higher housing needs.

Affordable housing targets
The proposal was to increase the affordable housing targets for the SPG housing market zones as follows:

All other aspects of the SPG would continue to apply as present. It is proposed to introduce the new targets when the Regional Spatial Strategy is adopted as expected in May 2008. The RSS sets in indicative band for Leeds of 30-40% affordable housing.  Leeds’ Strategic Housing Market Assessment was published in May 2007 and identifies a need for 1889 new affordable dwellings to be provided in Leeds per annum.

The proposed targets are an interim measure until the Supplementary Planning Document on affordable housing is completed as expected in December 2008.

A consultation paper was circulated to organisations interested in housing provision and comments invited between February 11 and 29 (see affordable housing targets pdf). A summary of comments received is also available (see summary of comments pdf).

Housing mix

The proposal was to set indicative guidance on the mix of houses and flats and sizes of dwellings in new housing developments:

New housing development will be expected to provide:

• at least 60% of new dwellings as houses with gardens
• at least 40% of new dwellings to be 3 or more bedrooms in size

With the following exceptions:

• not applicable to the city centre or town & district centres as defined in the UDP
• not applicable to small sites in locations where houses with gardens would be inappropriate in terms of urban character or where development of houses with gardens would make development unviable

The guidance is needed to reverse the increasing dominance of flats in housing supply over recent years addressing evidence of need for a broader mix of dwelling size & type.

A consultation paper was circulated to organisations interested in housing provision and comments invited between February 11 and 29 (see housing mix pdf).  A summary of comments received is also available (see summary of comments pdf).

New practice regarding requirements for affordable housing from student housing developments
Leeds City Council is currently consulting on changing its practice whereby new developments of student housing will be asked to contribute toward affordable housing provision. An 'overnight' introduction of the change in practice was abandoned in response to comments from student housing providers and the Universities.  The consultation period runs until the 20th March and the consultation letter is available to download (see consultation letter pdf). The introduction of the change in practice will be determined subject to consultation responses received.

Historically, Leeds City Council had waived such requirements on the basis that there was a stronger need for purpose built student accommodation than affordable housing. The position of need has since reversed leaving no reason to continue with the waiver.