Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan - Regulation 16
5. Housing
Purpose
To meet local housing need and to ensure that the area is supported by a range of local community facilities.
Evidence and Planning Rationale
National Policy
Chapter 5 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 (NPPF) deals with 'Supply of homes, mix and affordability'. This includes addressing the needs of groups with specific housing requirements.
The Government's Technical housing standards – nationally described space standard March 2015 sets minimum room sizes.
Local Policy
The Medway Local plan 2003 contains policies on residential development, housing mix, affordable housing and other matters. These are now somewhat out-of-date due to the age of the plan and in particular changes to national policy and guidance and the impact of COVID. However, many policies are still consistent with the NPPF and have been recognised as such by a number of planning inspectors in appeal cases.
However, central Government is currently reviewing national policy and guidance, so this figure is likely to need to be revised. Currently, based on the Medway Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment process thirty-two sites were submitted for consideration for development. This is currently being updated.
Policies of particular relevance are:
- H3: Affordable Housing
- H10: Housing Mix
- H11: Residential Development in Rural Settlements.
- S14 deals with Chattenden Barracks and recognises the long-term development potential of the site for business, educational or residential uses.
Policy S14 is contentious due to environmental impacts, so it is unclear whether this will survive to adoption.
Homes England controls the previously developed sites within the former Ministry of Defence Estate in Chattenden ( the land at Lodge Hill Camp and Chattenden Barracks).
The Neighbourhood Plan does not seek to modify Local Plan requirements for mix and affordable housing, but to shape how housing development, including affordable housing, is provided.
Medway Council is in the process of updating its Local Plan. Currently, the new Local Plan programme is to 2040, and current calculations of need are for 28,500 homes. Currently, based on the Medway Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment process thirty-two sites were submitted for consideration for development.
Other Documents
The Medway Local Housing Needs Assessment 2021 identifies a need for some housing suitable for older people or people with limited mobility, in addition to a range of house sizes.
For Hoo St Werburgh, the existing stock is as follows:
|
Dwelling type and number of bedrooms |
||||||||||
|
1- bedroom house |
2- bedroom house |
3- bedroom house |
4- bedroom house |
1- bedroom flat |
2 or more-bedroom flat |
1- bedroom bungalow |
2- bedroom bungalow |
3or more-bedroom bungalow |
Total |
Base |
|
0.5 |
13.5 |
51.8 |
14.2 |
6.7 |
7.0 |
0.5 |
3.6 |
2.2 |
100.0 |
4,150 |
The breakdown by tenure is:
|
Owner |
Private |
Affordable |
Total |
Base |
|
80.3% |
10.3% |
9.5% |
100.0% |
2,070 |
|
77.5% |
9.7% |
12.8% |
100.0% |
2,750 |
|
89.5% |
4.7% |
5.8% |
100.0% |
760 |
|
74.4% |
9.7% |
15.8% |
100.0% |
4,150 |
Affordable housing need by number of bedrooms is as follows:
|
Number of bedrooms needed |
Total |
Base |
|||||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
||
|
19.2 |
33.3 |
28.0 |
7.1 |
8.5 |
4.0 |
100.0 |
1,359 |
Planning Background
Sporadic house building has occurred over the past 60 years. More recently, housing development has produced separate communities within the parish, due to very poor connectivity. This is clearly unsustainable. Future development needs to have cohesion and connectivity to ensure there is a sense of place throughout the village, with the village centre at the heart of our community.
This plan does not make additional housing site allocations, but does make provision for housing growth in sustainable locations, as described in the following policies. The aim is to ensure home are built to provide a range of dwellings which are desirable, affordable, and future proof. This includes provision of 'Green' homes.
The COVID pandemic has highlighted the importance of housing design, including adequate room sizes and access to external amenity space. Climate change is a further key factor for new housing to address.
HOO4: Housing Growth and Mix
- In addition to strategic sites allocated by local plan, residential development will be supported in the following locations:
- in existing built settlements, including brownfield sites and infill development within existing built frontages;
- upper floors in commercial properties, providing there is no resulting conflict with existing commercial uses and the scheme can provide satisfactory residential standards;
- conversion of agricultural buildings, providing there is no significant loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land.
- Support for housing development is subject to there being no significant adverse impact on:
- the amenities of existing residential properties;
- the historic environment, meeting the requirements of HOO7;
- the landscape and natural environment, meeting the requirements of Policy HOO8.
- Housing to meet a range of local needs will be supported, including housing suitable for older people, people with limited mobility and other specialist housing needs.
- Affordable housing, including First Homes, should be provided:
- as an integral part of the scheme and be tenure blind; or
- where there are robust planning reasons for providing affordable housing separately, as near to the site as possible and within the Parish, to meet local need.
- Self-build and community-led housing is encouraged.
Interpretation
This is an enabling policy for residential development, identifying opportunities for new dwellings additional to allocated sites.
Design, transport and other requirements for residential development are set out in later policies.
Conflict with existing commercial uses could arise where the introduction of new residents could lead to complaints about noise and other impacts associated with the commercial operations.
Tenure blind means that housing should be of similar design and specification as market housing.
First Homes are defined in Planning Practice Guidance. Medway Council has a position statement on First Homes.
HOO5: Housing Standards
- Residential development should be designed to be flexible to changing needs, including home working.
- Residential development should be well-designed and should include positive design features to reduce carbon use, meeting the requirements of Policy HOO6.
- All new dwellings should have:
- Screened storage space for bins and recycling;
- Covered and secure storage for cycles, with electric charging points;
- Electric charging points for motor vehicles.
- All new dwellings must have access to external amenity space in the form of at least one of the following:
- Private or shared garden space;
- External balconies;
- Public space in very close proximity to the site.
- Housing schemes should include or have access to adequate play and recreational facilities in easy walking distance.
Interpretation
In developing flexible layouts, particular attention should be paid to adequate room sizes and storage space.
The later design policy (see Chapter 6) and its interpretation give examples of design features to reduce carbon use.
The policy requires cycle storage facilities for each house. A shared facility may be provided for flats or apartments.
Flats and apartments with no amenity space or space for planting on balconies would not normally meet the requirements of the policy. However, a more flexible approach should be taken to enable living above commercial premises, where it may not be possible to provide amenity space. This also applies to provision of storage space for cycles.
Guidelines on water infrastructure are included after Policy HOO6.
Hoo St Werburgh Parish Church (Grade I Listed), part of the area's rich and varied built heritage.