Housing Benefits Statement secures planning permission

Viable Placemaking are proud to have supported a new residential development in the south east, which will deliver much-needed housing.

Viable Placemaking are a town planning consultancy with a specialism in development economics and viability. As such, we frequently work alongside architects, developers, and fellow planning consultancies to prepare specialist reports on local needs. Recently, this has included housing needs assessments, employment land reviews, and economic impact assessments.

In this case, Viable Placemaking prepared a tailored Housing Benefits Statement for an undeveloped greenfield site in the south east. The report included extensive analysis into the local population, household types, housing needs, and delivery to provide the local Council with a better understanding on the type of development which was needed in the area.

Additionally, Viable Placemaking included analysis into local affordability, which is not only a critical component in tackling the housing crisis, but also reflects our commitment to supporting schemes which improve affordability.

The Housing Benefits Statement highlighted four key outputs:

1. The Council could not demonstrate a five year housing land supply,

2. The Council's housing delivery test was significantly below what was required to boost delivery in the area,

3. Local affordability was extremely poor, and

4. There was a local need for dwellings designed for those with accessibility issues, due to the local ageing population.

The report concluded that provision of housing should be seen as a significant benefit of the development.

The Council initially refused the planning application and Viable Placemaking supported with the appeal. The Planning Inspector agreed with the findings of the Housing Benefits Statement and found that, although the scheme was a minor development, the social and economic benefits shown should be given very substantial weight in addressing the "chronic shortage" of housing.

Following suitable completion of a legal agreement, the development was approved and these dwellings can now move towards construction.

Specialist reports are not needed with every planning application; however, demonstrating the benefits of a development - whether through housing delivery, economic growth, or other social/economic/environmental benefits - can make the difference in gaining planning permission.

If you would like to discuss a project or how our needs and supply analysis can support your development, please don't hesitate to get in touch.