Issue - meetings

It was proposed by the Leader, seconded by Councillor Pugh and Members agreed that recommendation set out in the report be agreed, namely:

“That Council adopts the First Homes Interim Policy Statement for Development Management Purposes.”

The First Homes initiative had been established by the Central Government to help make home ownership more affordable to first time buyers. First Homes were sold on the market with a discount of at least 30% against the market value and the discount would need to be higher in some areas of the district. After the discount was applied the first sale must be at price no higher than £250,000. First Homes could only be sold to people who meet the eligibility criteria which were set out in the Cabinet report, and if they were subsequently sold on, the same discount must be applied. The ranges of discounts to be applied in Thanet were set out in Table 1 (p4) of the Interim Policy Statement.

First Homes were delivered as part of the affordable housing requirement and secured through Section 106 planning obligations. All residential development of more than 10 units were required (in Local Plan Policy SP23) to provide 30% affordable housing. Of the affordable housing, 25% would be First Homes, 5% Intermediate and 70% Social/Affordable rent.

The Local Plan policy setting out the requirement for affordable housing (SP23) would be updated to reflect the requirement for the provision of First Homes and this would be included in the Local Plan Review. In the meantime, this Interim Policy Statement was being proposed for adoption for Development Management purposes so that the provision of First Homes could be requested prior to the completion of the Local Plan Review.

Councillor Whitehead spoke under Council Procedure 20.1.

Councillor Ashbee proposed, Councillor Bob Bayford seconded and Cabinet agreed to recommend to Full Council that the First Homes Interim Policy Statement for Development Management Purposes be adopted.