Affordable Housing
5.1 Three options are proposed for affordable housing delivery. Whichever option RDC takes in the DaSA, there are two key considerations to bear in mind:

* The written ministerial statement and subsequent update in the PPG resisting affordable housing contributions on developments of 10 or less units;
* Development Viability.

5.2. Option A is to retain the Core Strategy requirements for affordable housing provision. However, the DaSA is clear that this does not accord with the PPG. The Plan would therefore be subject to challenge unless there is sufficient up to date evidence to show that the requirements are locally justified. It is considered that Option A would be a risk for RDC and could have detrimental effects in the long term for affordable housing delivery if successfully challenged during the Plan period.

5.3. Options B and C reflect the PPG and the most up to date Government advice on affordable housing. These options are unlikely to prejudice or discourage smaller developers from coming forward with smaller housing schemes and would potentially help to boost the supply of housing in the short term. If a discretionary application of financial contributions is to be applied, RDC would need to undertake detailed research into all areas of the District in order to demonstrate specific locations where this would be applied and the reasons for it. Essentially, options B and C should be considered further and RDC needs to review affordable housing requirements against expected population changes and anticipated locations for housing growth in order to establish which of the two would be most appropriate.