AFFORDABLE HOUSING

3.26 The provision of affordable housing is an important part of developer contributions required over and above other matters. It cannot be provided in lieu of other matters, or vice versa. Policies must be based on evidence of need and to this end the North East Housing and Planning Alliance recently commissioned research on the level of housing need in the North East. There is evidence from this research that there are significant numbers of people in housing need in the North East. There are a number of solutions that have to be examined in order to meet these housing needs but an important factor will be the provision of new affordable housing. From the information available, including levels of need, local house prices and likely building rates, the appropriate level of affordable housing is likely to be around 35% across the structure plan area. The reducing level of public finance available to social housing providers now requires other sources of provision to be examined.

3.27 It is the role of development plans to provide housing to meet the needs of the North East. This includes people with special needs, for example the physically disabled and the elderly. The ageing population of Aberdeen and in particular Aberdeenshire makes this a particularly important issue with regard to housing. Information provided by the Housing Needs Survey, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Council Housing Plans and other relevant sources will provide guidance to local plans.