PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Zoe Willcox Service Director Planning Place Directorate Positive Planning: Delivering Housing Unblocking stalled sites

PAS Peer Day 10 th February What has been delivered to date 2.What are the issues for Bristol? 3.Housing Delivery Initiatives? Delivering Housing in Bristol

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 What has been delivered? Bristol housing completions Source: BCC, Bristol Residential Development Survey 2014 Housing supply peaked in 2008/09 Supply has declined and not projected to recover to pre-recession highs Core Strategy housing target requirements likely to be met over next 5 years Over 82% of supply since 2006/07 has been flats 81% of supply in 2013/14 has been flats Source: BCC, Bristol Residential Development Survey 2014

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 What has been delivered? Source: BCC, Bristol Residential Development Survey 2014 Affordable Housing supply 2000/01 – 2013/14

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 What are the issues for Bristol? 1.Demand is up but supply is down 2.Significant need for affordable housing in the city that cannot be met - existing supply declining 3.Significant increase in private renting

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 What are the issues for Bristol? 4.Limited number of strategic sites within Bristol 5.Over-supply of flats and smaller units of accommodation 6.Increasing student population 7.High existing land values and high build costs in the central area

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Housing delivery initiatives Bristol Local Plan Focus on housing delivery (84 major sites identified) Flexible policies seeking affordable housing Re-use of vacant offices and upper floors for housing Higher housing densities with a focus on accessible centres Helping to redress housing imbalance including more family housing Set housing standards Clear strategy for student accommodation PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Housing delivery initiatives Bristol Local Plan Review Requirement to review housing numbers in the Plan for 2016 Bristol’s housing market – area in the context of the West of England (WoE) Commissioned a WoE Strategic Housing Market Assessment Commitment to produce a WoE Joint Strategic Planning Strategy PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Housing delivery initiatives Mayoral Homes Commission Key recommendations include: Review of council land and property assets to increase land supply Jointly identify and plan for new homes on a sub-regional basis Create a ‘Results-not-Process’ culture Establish a specialist stalled site team Develop and nurture an alternative homes sector Create a revolving investment fund set up by the council to promote and support the development of site for new homes where short term finance represents an obstacle to development PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Housing delivery initiatives Affordable Housing Delivery Framework Sets out objectives (and action plan) to increase the supply of affordable housing in the city, including: Bringing forward development opportunities in the Council’s ownership Encouraging the release of other public sector development land. The Council as a direct developer of new homes. Encouraging new models of provision. Working effectively with our partners. Streamlining decision-making and working as a team. Using the planning system to best effect. PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Housing delivery initiatives Open for business To ensure economically viable schemes can continue to be delivered. In particular: Positive approach to renegotiation of planning obligations Interim approach to affordable housing targets Flexibility over affordable housing tenures Production of Planning Briefs PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Housing delivery initiatives Stalled sites programme 5000 residential units stalled Study to review and understand the lack of progress/delivery since planning consent was granted Detailed analysis of 16 sites with largest number and prospects of coming forward. Range of reasons including viability, developer in receivership, relocating existing uses, discharging conditions, sites mothballed, alternative use implemented. PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Stalled Sites : Recommendations to the 4 UAS To review signpost advice, guidance and further info To review planning processes post-consent, i.e. discharge of conditions To consider how to better monitor, collate and review planning intelligence To consider whether engagement with property agents could be improved, and whether the link with ‘Invest in Bristol and Bath’ could be strengthened To consider whether better use could be made of the LEP network to monitor and benchmark against similar projects Housing delivery initiatives PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Stalled Sites : Action to date Proactively contacting all owners – including reference to funding opportunities Establishing a stalled sites team – support from HCA Targeting developer interest – particular focus on private rented sector Focusing on post decision support – reallocating resources Housing delivery initiatives PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Stalled Sites : More to be done Incentivise the rapid delivery of permitted schemes More resources to bolster proactively unblock sites Housing delivery initiatives PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Five Neighbourhood Development Plans What will they contribute to the delivery of housing? Community awareness of and greater involvement in planning process Up front community support for development Potential for small increase in housing delivery on sites not allocated by BCC Potential for change to local mix and balance of housing tenure Housing delivery initiatives

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Housing delivery initiatives Number of Prior Approval applications56 Loss of floorspace (m 2 )71,234 Dwellings1015 Source: BCC, June 2014 Permitted Change of Use from Office (B1(a)) to Residential (C3) Prior Approval applications: November 2014 Place Directorate, Bristol City Council Understanding the consequences – affordable housing and sustainability Regeneration benefits in specific parts of the city

PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015 Thank You Zoe Willcox Service Director Planning Place Directorate PAS Peer Day 10 th February 2015