A range of housing types, at different prices, tenures, and locations, is needed to cater for the increasing number and variety of households, to maintain the viability of communities, and to support the operation of local labour markets and the wider economy. SPP 3: Planning for Housing states that planning authorities should assess future housing land requirements for each housing market area and ensure that land is identified to fully meet requirements including affordable housing needs.

The SPP broadly defines affordable housing as housing of a reasonable quality that is affordable to people on modest incomes, and notes that in some places the market provides some or all of the affordable housing needed while in other places it will be necessary to make housing available at a cost below market value, to meet an identified need. SPP 3 indicates that the planning system can play an important supporting role in the provision of affordable housing.

This Planning Advice Note sets out how the planning system can support the Executive's commitment to increase the supply of affordable housing. It provides advice and information, including existing examples of better practice. It seeks to speed up the development of both market and affordable housing by ensuring that any affordable housing requirement included in the development plan is realistic. The planning contribution is set within the wider housing policy context and recognises other mechanisms for the provision of affordable housing, some of which are delivered by Communities Scotland.

Scottish Executive Planning Directorate
Susan Stirling (Principal Planner), tel. +44 131 2447551

01/03/2005

policy

Urban Policy > Housing

Housing policy