Chapter 1

Policy Introduction

1.1 The objective of this policy is to ensure that housing development contributes to providing a range of housing choices in East Renfrewshire that assists in meeting identified affordable housing needs in a sustainable way.

1.2 This document provides Supplementary Planning Policy Guidance (SPPG) to the East Renfrewshire Local Plan (adopted November 2003) pending the replacement of the Local Plan by the Council

1.3 The policy sets out how the Planning system can support the delivery of affordable housing and provides clarity on the requirements for affordable housing for new housing developments in East Renfrewshire.

1.4 The policy will guide discussions with housing developers and other stakeholders, and will be a material consideration in the assessment of Planning Applications.

1.5 This policy has been developed through an Affordable Housing Policy Working Group comprising membership from East Renfrewshire Council Planning and Regeneration Service, East Renfrewshire Council Housing Service, a representative from Homes for Scotland, Communities Scotland, and a Housing Association representative of the East Renfrewshire Housing Providers Forum.

1.6 The Council has commenced the formal process of replacing the East Renfrewshire Local Plan and has set down a Charter for undertaking and completing this process by March 2008. During this process, this SPPG will be developed into a comprehensive affordable housing policy for inclusion in the replacement Local Plan. It is anticipated that the replacement Plan will also include specific land use proposals for affordable housing along with reasonable alternative locations for affordable housing land. This replacement local plan will be subject to detailed publicity and consultation and assessment under new Strategic Environmental Assessment (“SEA”) Regulations. Towards the end of the Local Plan replacement process, the Council’s policies and proposals may be the subject of detailed scrutiny at a Local Plan Inquiry. In the meantime, there continues to be a pressing requirement for affordable housing in East Renfrewshire to accommodate the significant backlog of unmet need identified in the Council’s Local Housing Strategy and Housing Needs Assessment, and to support the regeneration of the worst areas of deprivation

1.7 This SPPG provides interim policy guidance on the delivery of affordable housing pending the replacement of the Local Plan. It provides a policy framework for securing affordable housing in new residential developments principally through urban renewal but does not seek to identify new sites for this purpose. This is more appropriately left to the Local Plan and accompanying SEA process.

1.8 This SPPG is effective from the date of approval by the Council. It will be taken into consideration in the determination of all Planning Applications for residential development submitted to the Council from that date.