7 Cross-cutting issues D Family sized housing at higher densities / in town centres and growth areas developments occur, aimed at the existing market of childless adults. Previously childless couples begin to start families. Some will move out to larger and traditional family stock at this stage, while others will stay; and
––Stage 3 – continued development sees a ramp up in the pace of delivery as well as diversification of housing being offered, with three and four-bedroom homes beginning to appear. Public sector agencies respond to demographic trends and provide additional social infrastructure. 7.38. The risk is that (given that the greatest housing need is often for large affordable family housing) insisting on affordable housing on-site during Stages 1 and 2, before a private market for family-sized housing has developed, could lead to virtually all family housing that is delivered in town centres in the short term being affordable. This is unlikely to foster the creation of a mixed and sustainable community, increasing demand for social infrastructure, and may deter the development of a private housing market (both family and non-family) which could exacerbate the issue further. The promotion of on-site affordable housing needs to be managed by:
––Prioritising Intermediate housing in the short term; ––Providing some on-site and some off-site family-sized Affordable Rent housing on ‘donor sites’ in CAZ / town centre fringe areas by way of payments in lieu; and
––Making clear that the balance will change and
that all the achievable affordable housing will be expected to be delivered on-site in the in the longerterm.
115 Housing Density Study