This policy should include an exemption to First Homes and/or any other specific tenure split requirements where the large majority (75%+) of housing is proposed as affordable housing (as defined by Annex 2 of the NPPF).
Encouraging the delivery of schemes in which the large majority of homes (75%+) are affordable homes is important for increasing and accelerating the delivery of new affordable homes and meeting unmet local housing need. Requiring these very important schemes to also provide First Homes and or other specific tenures would make them less viable/attractive for Registered Providers and other SME affordable housing developers such as Pocket. The need to support SME developers to widen housing choice is noted in the Council’s Housing Strategy (2019) evidence base (page 21). Flexibility on tenure for schemes providing more than 75% affordable housing has successfully been implemented in London through Policy H5 of the London Plan (2021) and has supported increased affordable housing delivery.