Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

This consultation closed 27th November 2024. The council is currently reviewing responses.

Purpose of this SPD

The purpose of this Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is to set out the council’s approach to delivering affordable housing. This is a key objective of the Southwark Plan 2022, outlined in strategic policy SP1 ‘Homes for all’.

The purpose of this SPD is to:

• Provide clear definitions of what is considered affordable housing
• Set out the hierarchy for the delivery of affordable housing, including for small sites and non-conventional housing
• Set out the Council’s approach to assessing viability during the determination of planning application and in viability reviews
• Set out the standards for the housing mix and tenure of affordable housing
• Set out the expectations for the design and management of affordable housing
• Set out monitoring arrangements to retain affordable housing

What development does it apply to?

This SPD applies to all housing development (including new build, change of use, conversions and extensions) with a policy requirement for affordable housing. It provides detailed guidance about how decisions on planning applications will be made.

This includes:

• Social rented housing
• Intermediate housing • Key worker housing
• Small sites development
• Self and custom build development
• Community Land Trusts (CLTs)
• Purpose built student accommodation
• Houses in Multiple occupation (HMOs)
• Wheelchair accessible housing

The Affordable Housing SPD will replace the existing Affordable Housing SPD (2008) and draft Affordable Housing SPD (2011).

Supporting documents

Documents prepared in support of this SPD can be viewed on the council website. This includes documents such as the consultation plan and the Equality Impact Needs Assessment (EINA).

Further questions

Any further questions regarding the consultation should be emailed to the Planning Policy Team at planningpolicy@southwark.gov.uk