Woking Borough Council

Affordable Housing Delivery Supplementary Planning Document

Since publication of the Affordable Housing Delivery SPD, the Government has introduced the national Affordable Housing threshold and the Vacant Building Credit. These were originally introduced by a Written Ministerial Statement in 2014 and have been reinstated following a Court of Appeal decision in May 2016. The affordable housing threshold was subsequently replaced by a slightly different threshold in the revised National Planning Policy Framework (July 2018, February 2019) . These changes have altered the way in which the Council implements Core Strategy Policy CS12 'Affordable housing'. A note is available here which explains how Policy CS12 is implemented in light of the national threshold and also how the Vacant Building Credit will be applied in Woking Borough.

The Affordable Housing Delivery SPD was adopted by the Council on 23 October 2014 and is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. It provides detailed information regarding the implementation and delivery of Core Strategy Policy CS12: Affordable Housing and explains what applicants and developers need to do to meet the requirements of this policy. It is therefore an important document to help to deliver the vision and objectives of the Core Strategy.

You can view the SPD by:

The Council consulted on a draft of the SPD March to May 2014. The comments received were taken into account before the document was finalised and adopted. A Consultation Statement has been produced which explains the methods used for consultation, provides a summary of the comments received and a schedule of the modifications made as a result of the consultation. A copy of the Consultation Statement can be downloaded here. A hard copy can be provided on request (subject to a charge).

We have also published the following other supporting documents:

The Affordable Housing Delivery SPD has now replaced the earlier informal guidance for the calculation of off-site affordable housing financial contributions (December 2013) and the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance note (May 2004).

If you have any questions about the Affordable Housing Delivery SPD please contact the Planning Policy team on 01483 743871 or planning.policy@woking.gov.uk