Dear Mr Chafer

Thank you for your enquiry.

The information requested in relation to affordable housing contributions
can be found in the Infrastructure Funding Statements published on the
Council's website here:
[1]https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-b...

Wirral’s policy around affordable housing requirements

Paragraphs 64 to 66 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
advises as follows:

64. Where a need for affordable housing is identified, planning policies
should specify the type of affordable housing required 29 , and expect it
to be met on-site unless:

(a) off-site provision or an appropriate financial contribution in lieu
can be robustly justified; and

(b) the agreed approach contributes to the objective of creating mixed and
balanced communities.

65. Provision of affordable housing should not be sought for residential
developments that are not major  developments, other than in designated
rural areas (where policies may set out a lower threshold of 5 units or
fewer). To support the re-use of brownfield land, where vacant buildings
are being reused or redeveloped, any affordable housing contribution due
should be reduced by a proportionate amount 30 .

66. Where major development involving the provision of housing is
proposed, planning policies and decisions should expect at least 10% of
the total number of homes to be available for affordable home ownership 31
, unless this would exceed the level of affordable housing required in the
area, or significantly prejudice the ability to meet the identified
affordable housing needs of specific groups. Exemptions to this 10%
requirement should also be made where the site or proposed development:

(a) provides solely for Build to Rent homes;

(b) provides specialist accommodation for a group of people with specific
needs (such as purpose-built accommodation for the elderly or students);

(c) is proposed to be developed by people who wish to build or commission
their own homes; or

(d) is exclusively for affordable housing, an entry-level exception site
or a rural exception site.

The Strategic Housing Market Assessment Update 2021 undertaken by Arc4 is
Wirral’s latest available up-to-date evidence on local housing needs in
the Borough, prepared by accredited experts, based on local survey
evidence and in consultation with industry representatives and housing
providers.

The 2021 SHMA update can be viewed via these links: [2]SHMA update 2021
(main report) [3]SHMA update 2021 Technical Appendices (appendices).

Wirral Council’s current development plan is the Wirral Unitary
Development Plan (UDP), adopted in 2000. The relevant policy in the UDP
setting out the requirement for the provision of affordable housing is
policy HSG2 (page 63 of the following document) and HS6 (page 64 of the
following document):
[4]https://www.wirral.gov.uk/files/4.-housi...

Wirral Council is in the process of adopting a new Development Plan
(Wirral’s Local Plan) and more information about the Local Plan, its
status and the stag of the process that the Plan has reached can be found
on our website here:
[5]https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-b...

Please refer to policy Ws 3.3 (Affordable Housing Requirements) in the
Local Plan for Wirral’s emerging policy on Affordable housing.

We hope that this is useful.

Yours sincerely

Lynette Paterson

Principal Information Management Officer

Finance – Digital and Improvement

Wirral Council

PO Box 290
Brighton Street
Wallasey
CH27 9FQ

Email: [6][email address]

Visit our website: [7]www.wirral.gov.uk

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References

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