Archive Council News

26.05.05

Affordable Housing in Wrexham

Wrexham Council has agreed a new Planning Guidance Note to help the county wide problem of a shortage of affordable housing.

The Guidance clearly sets out to housing developers that any new development in the county of 25 or more homes will have to contain, in most cases, 25% of acceptable and sustainable affordable housing either for rent by a registered social landlord, for shared ownership or for sale at a discounted market price. It also sets out the design and management of these homes which must be integrated and distributed throughout the development, be built to current building regulations and where relevant, to internal space standards.

The Guidance is the result of local people having genuine difficulty securing affordable housing. This is seen by the increasing number of people applying for Council Housing. The problem is made worse by rising house prices, the decline in the number of council houses available as more people take up their right to buy and the rise in people outside the area wanting to move to Wrexham, either as an ideal location to commute to work or to retire to.

The Guidance also makes clear that affordable housing will remain affordable for future generations by using regulated registered social landlords or other housing organisation and covenant agreements to bind owners to ensure affordability is maintained.

The Guidance follows extensive public consultation with interested parties including Community Councils and developers. It is based on the policies in the recently adopted Unitary Development Plan and will strengthen planning policy and will be used to help determine planning applications in the future.

Lawrence Isted Wrexham's Chief Planning Officer said:

"Wrexham Council has recognised the need to provide affordable housing particularly aimed at those on low income or with special housing needs. Many of our policies make reference to this problem and the Guidance will help planners and developers address the shortage."