Falkirk Council

Falkirk Council approved, on 9th August 2011, changes to Policy SC4 Special Needs and Affordable Housing of the Falkirk Council Local Plan. 

These changes were agreed following a review of the operation of the existing policy.

Stakeholder consultation took place on the proposed changes during March and early April 2011. 

The revised policy has an interim status pending the approval of the Falkirk Local Development Plan.  As such it will be an important material consideration in the determination of planning applications.  The revised interim policy states:

SC4 Affordable Housing

For housing developments of 20 or more units, the Council will require a diversity of house types and tenures in order to create integrated communities. In particular there will be a requirement across the Council area for new housing sites to provide 15% or 25% of the total number of units as affordable housing. In the light of the findings of the Housing Need and Demand Assessment the percentage contribution will be applied across the settlement areas accordingly

Percentage requirements	25%	15%
Housing settlement areas	Larbert/Stenhousemuir Polmont & District Rural North Rural South	Bo'ness Bonnybridge/Banknock Denny & District Falkirk Grangemouth

Acceptable approaches could include:

1. Provision of general needs social rented houses;
2. Provision of social housing with care, for people with particular needs (specifically the elderly and physically disabled);
3. Provision of shared equity or shared ownership housing;
4. Provision of low cost homes for sale; or
5. Provision of homes for mid-market or intermediate rent

The Council will apply a sequential approach to the delivery of affordable housing

• On site provision
• Off site provision
• Commuted sum payment

Developers will be expected to work in partnership with the Council, National Housing Trust and/or Registered Social Landlords in the delivery of this policy. Further guidance is provided in the SPG Affordable Housing.

In applying the policy to secure affordable housing to development applications, consideration of the overall viability of the development will be taken into account.