Thank you for your email.  If you are applying for information under The
Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information
Regulations 2004, your request is being processed and a response will be
sent to you within 20 working days from receipt of your request.  However,
if we require further clarification regarding your request we will contact
you as soon as possible. 

In the meantime, please accept this as an acknowledgement of your email.

 

Kind regards,

Boston Borough Council

 

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Good afternoon,

 

Thank you for your information access request received on the 9^th August
2023 where you asked for information regarding affordable housing.

 

Under [1]Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we can
confirm that Boston Borough Council does not hold the information
specified in your request.

 

1)      Definition of "Affordable":

•         How does your council define "affordable housing"?

•         Is it based on a percentage of the median income, a fixed price
range, or another metric?

 

Please see Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework
[2]https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk...

 

2)      Price Breakdown:

•         What is the average price of an affordable home in your
district?

Please see attached report

•         Are there different tiers or categories of affordable housing in
your district?

Please see response to question 1

•         If so, can you provide a price breakdown for each?

Please see attached report

 

3)      Housing Numbers:

•         How many affordable homes are currently available in your
district?

This depends on what is meant by available. There are approx. 6000 rented
affordable properties in the district. This figure does not include Shared
Ownership and other affordable tenures such as First Homes.   Available
affordable and social rented properties are advertised through the joint
housing register. Please see following link
 [3]https://www.boston.gov.uk/article/21048/....

•         How many affordable homes have been built in the last five
years?

690

•         Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives aimed at
increasing the number of affordable homes?

The council works closely with the planning department, Registered
Providers (Housing Associations), Homes England and other partners to
deliver new affordable homes in the district both through Planning Policy
contributions and all affordable housing schemes. There are a number of
all affordable housing schemes currently under development in the borough.

 

4)      Challenges and Solutions:

•         What are the primary challenges your district faces in providing
affordable housing?

Identifying Registered Providers able to acquire affordable properties
from S106 planning contributions if the number of affordable properties is
below 10-15.

Viability of sites.  

•         What initiatives or strategies has the council implemented or is
planning to implement to address these challenges?

We continue to seek new Registered Providers to work with who are
interested in these properties.

We continue to work with partners to address viability issues.

 

5)      Additional Information:

•         Is there any other data, insights, or information you believe
would be relevant to our investigation?

No

•         What is the council doing to support people getting on the
housing ladder? What's the council's view and is it a priority?

Yes it is a priority – Activities from the South East Lincs Councils
Partnerships Annual Delivery Plan 2023/24

-          Maintain support for Affordable Housing delivery across the
Partnership including exploring new delivery

-          models and partners as well as direct delivery

-          Focused activity to prevent homelessness across the sub-region

-          Delivery against Lincolnshire’s Homelessness Strategy

 

We trust that the information above completes your request in full,
however if we can be of any further assistance please contact us.  If
information has been refused, please treat this as a Refusal Notice under
[4]Section 17 of the FOIA.

 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of the Council’s
decision, you should contact Richard Steele, Group Manager for Information
Governance and Data Protection Officer (deputy DPO SHDC)

Boston Borough, South Holland District and East Lindsey District Councils
on 01205 314368 or by email at [5][email address] .

 

Kind regards

 

Alexandra Fisher

Information Governance Officer - Governance

Boston Borough Council | East Lindsey District Council

 

T:  01205 314200

E:  [6][Boston Borough Council request email]

[7]www.boston.gov.uk |[8]www.e-lindsey.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

This email may contain sensitive or personal data, please think before
including in any forwarded correspondence.
The information within this email is confidential. It is intended solely
for the addressee and access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised.
Such unauthorised use, disclosure, copying, distribution, any action or
inaction in reliance of it is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

If you have received this email in error:

 1. Notify the sender immediately
 2. Do not use or disclose the information in any way
 3. Delete the email from your system

References

Visible links
1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/200...
2. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk...
3. https://www.boston.gov.uk/article/21048/...
4. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/200...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[Boston Borough Council request email]
7. http://www.boston.gov.uk/
8. http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/