Issues and Options for the Ipswich Local Plan Review

Comment

Representation ID: 24802

Received: 10/10/2017

Respondent: Rentplus UK Ltd

The policies in this Plan should be flexible, aiming to incentivise residential development that integrates well with existing communities and results in mixed and balanced communities. While it may be appropriate to have a mix of house types and sizes on individual schemes, this should be aimed at providing balance within the wider community, seeking to match local housing needs and demands. We recommend that the policies developed for this plan balances these needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 24803

Received: 10/10/2017

Respondent: Rentplus UK Ltd

The Government intends to widen the definition of affordable housing to encourage a greater diversity of housing to be delivered across England to meet a full range of needs. Starter homes continue to form part of this mix, but is also to be read as a small part of a larger array of tenures, including rent to buy. Members of the Government have indicated that the next iteration of the NPPF (expected in early 2018) is to include rent to buy. This, and starter homes, should be considered as part of the response to meeting local housing needs.

Comment

Representation ID: 24804

Received: 10/10/2017

Respondent: Rentplus UK Ltd

Many households cannot access traditional affordable housing, are trapped in expensive private rented accommodation, and cannot save towards a mortgage deposit. Under rent to buy households save for a deposit while paying an affordable rent, and then purchase the same house. Rentplus gifts a 10% deposit. It removes the need for households to move and frees up social/affordable rented housing for those with greater priority needs. The inclusion of a wider choice of affordable housing tenures can assist wider delivery and should be sought in a new affordable housing policy to assist more families into housing that meets their needs.