Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Ambition 2020 review Key Line of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Key Line of Enquiry four: a sustainable place to live

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Ambition 2020 review

Appendix 1

• 1. Introduction

Ambition 2020 review

In autumn 2019, Overview and Scrutiny committee agreed to begin a review of the fourth key line of enquiry: people want to live? Growth approach

• ur strategy to ensure that growth in Barking & Dagenham leaves

no one behind.

This Key Line of Enquiry has a dual focus

In reviewing this KLoE, the committee have a dual focus on housing and environmental

• sustainability. Specifically, Members are reviewing:

The extent to which the new housing and infrastructure supply being delivered through Be First is providing a balanced range of high-quality and affordable housing, together with the right infrastructure and opportunities for business growth; and How our strategy is promoting the environmental sustainability of the borough, as it grows, to ensure it is a place where people want to live

The committee set some more specific questions to help to unpack this further:

• 1. What are the outcomes of the recent developments in terms of inclusive growth

and supporting people to remain in the borough? and what is the housing supply pipeline currently planned through Be First?

• 2. Is the housing balance right between 1- and 2-bed, and larger properties, and is

there sufficient capacity that supports people to grow their family life in the borough as circumstances change we know there are vacancies in some schools, does this suggest people are moving away from the borough as their families grow?

• 3. Are we providing truly affordable housing options, that promote community

cohesion in the long term

• 4. How is environmental sustainability being incorporated into the infrastructure of

the borough is as these developments come on stream?

Task and Finish Groups feedback

To support this review, two task and finish groups were established, one to consider housing and one covering sustainability. This enabled members to have a more in depth, data-led discussion about the lines of enquiry The Purpose of this presentation is to share some of the outcomes from these discussions, and the data that underpins them, as the basis for the committee to decide

• n some recommendations which will go in the final report of the wider review which

will be published in April.

Task and finish group 1: Housing

Objectively assessed need Government housing methodology GLA London Plan Target

1,790 new dwellings per year based on demographics, employment trends and market signals 2,089 new dwellings per year based on England-wide NPPF supply target

Taken together, the borough needs 1.8k to 2k new homes per year, or 36k to 40k new homes over the next 20 years

1,944 new dwellings a year based on land availability and capacity, rather than just housing need

Assessed housing need

Need is measured in different ways, by a multitude of national and regional

• methodologies. Taken together, we get a broad picture of our overall need.

Since 2010, the number of new homes completed by the

85 31 477 38 261 228 104 108

100 200 300 400 500 600 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

significantly

85 31 477 38 261 228 104 108 259 92 327 252 875 1216

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24

866 homes 3000 homes 245% increase

This means that over the next five years, we are increasing

• ur completion rate by 245%

New homes completed by the Council 2013/14 2017/18 866 New homes to be delivered within the Be First Business Plan 2019 - 24 c.3000

Tenure Type Total Overall Percentage Market Sale and Market Rent 759 26% Intermediate rent (65-80%) 833 28% Council equivalent: London Affordable Rent and Target Rent 650 22% Shared Ownership 515 17% Temporary Accommodation 189 6% Total 2946 Of these nearly 3,000 new homes, almost three-quarters will be affordable, meaning they will be at sub-market rents, or sold at significantly less then market prices through shared ownership. This is well above the GLA requirement for 50 per cent affordable homes on public land (and the 35% required on privately owned land).

New build programme: tenure mix

Affordable housing completions projected to 2022/23

Performance compared to other London Boroughs

The GLA Annual Monitoring Report published October 2019 showed: LBBD had the highest % of affordable homes as a proportion of all new homes completed in 17/18 LBBD had the second highest % of affordable homes as a proportion of all new homes completed between 2015/16 and 2017/18 LBBD is the borough with the highest proportion of affordable units in the pipeline, with 4,353 affordable homes with planning consent

35% 43% 20% 2%

1 Bed 2 Bed 3 Bed 4 Bed

The breakdown of homes by number of bedrooms in our new build programme has been designed, as far as viability allows, to meet our assessed need. We commissioned a strategic housing market assessment (table below) which tell us that across all tenures we mostly need homes of one, two, and three bedrooms. We also have a not insignificant need for larger homes of 4 or more bedrooms.

All tenure projected need by bedroom size Bedrooms % needed One bedroom 39% Two bedrooms required 27% Three bedrooms required 25% Four or more bedrooms required 10%

New build programme: size mix supply and demand

New build programme: units by bedroom size

15% 37% 38% 9% London Affordable Rent units to be delivered

1 Bed 2 Bed 3 Bed 4 Bed Bedrooms required % 1 19% 2 34% 3 36% 4 10% 5 1% Housing Register

We have 4,929 households on our waiting list, and has remained around this level since 2018. The table below shows number of bedrooms need for households on the register as of January 2020. As the chart on the right shows, the bedroom number breakdown has been designed to reflect this.

New build programme: size mix supply and demand for affordable homes

We are building homes to rent for those on a range of

Council Comparative Rent / London Affordable Rent

Around 650 Homes Designed for Local Households on

£155 a week for a 1 bed £158 a week for a 2 bed £173 a week for a 3 bed

Can be fully covered by housing benefit housing register can afford this

Intermediate Rent (less than 20% of market prices)

Around 700 homes at affordable rents Designed for local working households on lower incomes

From £170 a week for a 1 bed From £200 a week for a 2 bed From £240 a week for a 3 bed

Needs an income of £22k a year for a one bed; £28k for a two bed An office assistant and retail worker together can afford a 2 bed

Private Rent

Around 260 Homes Designed for local households who can afford full market rents, but can benefit from more secure tenures

From £219 a week for a 1 bed From £277 a week for a 2 bed From £323 a week for a 3 bed

Around £30k a year for a one bed; £36k for a 2 bed A bus driver and classroom assistant together can afford a 2 bed Rent can partly be covered through housing benefit

Shared Ownership

Around 600 Homes Designed for Local Households who want to get on the housing register, but An initial deposit then around £250 a week in rent and mortgage payments Households who have been able to save up around £10k, then needs an income of £35k per year A teacher who has been able to save up for a deposit can afford this

Private Sales

Around 620 Homes Designed for local households who can afford to buy a new home outright From £300k for a 2 bed Households who have a deposit of around £30k, and a household income

• f around £70k a year

A train driver and office worker together who have been able to save up for a deposit can afford this

Figures show we allocated 850 properties in 2018-19. With nearly 5,000 households on the waiting list, this is nowhere near enough to meet demand. Accommodation solution Voids allocated in 2018 - 19 General needs housing 565 Sheltered housing 83 Adapted voids 147 Housing association 55 Total 850 Demand comes from four main sources: Regeneration Decants, Referral Groups (households in priority need referred to Community Solutions from another service, for example cases of vulnerable people), Homelessness cases and the general Housing Register.

Allocations and letting

Our allocations policy works on the basis of priority need. Given intense pressures

• n available housing, our policy prioritises the following groups: regeneration

decants, homeless people, and vulnerable groups referred from the Council joint assessment panels (such as care leavers or those with disabilities). This means that the amount of Council voids which can be advertised for demand. Therefore we know that only way we can begin to tackle this problem and provide homes for local people is by building them. This is why we have setup Be First, a wholly-owned council company with an ambitious house building programme.

How we allocate homes

improve affordability for local people, free up large properties and support vulnerable groups into

• housing. Specifically, changes include:

Adjusting the qualifying criteria for Reside properties to open more up for local people raising earnings vs rent affordability threshold to 40% (currently 30%) and permitting in-work benefits and Universal Credit to count towards household income (as part of a working household). Providing Council tenants who are under-occupying their home with the joint highest bidding priority (alongside regeneration decant households). Establishing and formalising joint assessment panels to provide housing options and solutions for vulnerable groups. Changes were approved by Cabinet in December 2019, and will be fully implemented in Spring 2020.

Recent housing allocations policy changes

Early in the development of a scheme, Members should be provided with information on proposed bedroom split with information displaying how this relates to local need (at a ward level if possible). Members noted the variety of different figures in relation to housing need depending on type

• f measurement. Recommended that Members be provided with information on which need

figures we use to develop our targets for affordable homes. More information and communications about the range of affordable options should be developed, including positive and proactive promotion of the Reside offer. Work to ensure that the supply of affordable homes, as far as viability allows, contains larger family homes of three and four bedrooms.

Task and Finish group recommendations on housing

Task & Finish group members had the following recommendations on the housing element of this KLoE, which they may wish to take forward into their report:

Task and Finish group recommendations on affordable housing options continued

Members noted that there are people who fall between affordable and intermediate, and might find intermediate not affordable for them. Members heard how the Reside affordability threshold is changing, and recommended that data is regularly collected on the impact of this change and presented to Members. Develop more detailed communications for residents on the benefits of shared ownership, and report back to Members on take up of product. Further communication, for both Members and residents, on the difference between affordability

• products. This should include detail on the different definitions, and information around how

much each costs. to Buy for local people, and whether further options to support residents in putting down deposits could be explored by the Council.

Task and Finish Group 2: Environmental Sustainability

In preparing for the Task & Finish Group, Members provided the following questions to guide the session: 1. Considering the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, does the overarching strategy for inclusive growth go far enough to establish and encourage

• utdoor pursuits within the community? What actions have been taken and

what successes have there been? 2. To what extent are environmental sustainability considerations observed in the planning process? 3. Where does the biodiversity action plan of 2017 fit into the strategy for inclusive growth? Have we implemented any of the recommendations from the report?

• Waste. Producing

less and doing more A decarbonised local energy system Energy efficient homes and buildings

ELWA Strategy modelling our waste flows for 25 years to boost recycling, reuse and prevention B&D Energy district heat networks; cheap fuel with Beam Energy; investment in PV and heat pumps E.ON insulation programme; deep retrofit Energiesprong model; Carbon offsetting

With the backdrop of a climate change emergency inclusive growth means playing our part in facilitating the cleaner, greener, environmentally sound community which helps prevent temperatures rising by more than 1.5C. A green local environment

Masterplans for our parks; tree-planting; habitat enhancement in the Local Plan; EV and air quality targets Shaping the markets and supply chains to clean growth economy; retrofit and LEV industries

Localising green economy jobs

Towards 2030 and 2050 net zero carbon targets

Decentralised, decarbonised, affordable energy

Zero Carbon Roadmap for 2030 and 2050 Low carbon district heat networks to 8,000 homes Affordable fuel tariffs, sourced from renewables LBBD to invest in solar, battery and heat pump technologies infrastructure.

Energy efficient homes and buildings

Cosy Homes scheme delivering free insulation and heating measures Becontree RE:FIT programme of retrofitting corporate assets and housing stock New carbon offset policy, incentivising zero carbon new-build

A green local environment

Air Quality Action Plan targets Shifting the borough to an electric and low emission future Increased tree canopy, cools spots for shading and refreshed parks and spaces Enhancement of habitats and biodiversity

The need for quality parks and open spaces is a vital plank of inclusive growth. This is coupled with utilising parks against the impact of climate change, providing shade and cooling, while supporting wider ranges of biodiversity. Our Parks and Open Spaces Strategy commits the council to: Master- Repurposing facilities in outdoor spaces and making use of community groups Tree-planting opportunities, new spaces and places of interest (Dagenham corridor, skylight and summer meadows, orchard communities) Raising the educational profile of our parks, such as Wild & Free programmes New workstreams pitch strategy and elevating the sporting potential of parks

Delivering quality parks and refreshed open spaces

Subject to the new Draft Local Plan there are a number of current planning advice notes which are widely accessible to developers wanting to know what the Council would like to see in new-build and refurbishments, the most important being on Sustainable Design and Construction as well as

• n waste, recycling and green roofs

The planning application process also requires specific submissions with regard to: Energy Statements Part L Building Regulations Biodiversity Statement protections for natural habitats, wildlife and tree plantings and references to the new Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Strategy 2019 Flood risk mitigations measures and sustainable drainage requirements S.106 and carbon offsetting tools

Sustainability in the planning process

Biodiversity Report 2017

In 2016, the borough commissioned an independent habitat survey into existing 38 Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINCs) and made a number of recommendations for new sites and proposals for wildlife corridors. The report now forms part of the evidence base of the Local Plan which is out to

• consultation. The report contained the following recommendations, which we aim to enact and are

seeking the input of partners (such as developers) to progress: Merging the Beam Valley Country Park and Beam Parklands into an upgraded Site of Metropolitan Importance Mayesbrook Park and Farm Ecopark be upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1 site

• mouth Creek and Thames View Ditch

Two new Borough Grade 2 sites be recognised at the Marks-Warren Quarry Restored Area and Cranfield Golf Centre There are 11 other sites proposed for Local Site status across parts of the borough where there is considered deficient access to nature

Task and Finish group recommendations on environmental sustainability

Task & Finish group members had the following recommendations on the environmental sustainability element of this KLoE, which they may wish to take forward into their report:

Members were pleased with activity taking place in parks in the borough such as school trips to learn from park rangers but noted they did not have sight of these. Recommended a focus

• n external communications going forward, so that Members can have sufficient knowledge of

community activities being undertaken to support residents through parks and leisure. Look into how we can incentivise residents to use renewable energy technologies such as electric cars and solar panels to make sure these are attractive and feasible. Utilise opportunity presented by our environment to make parks and open spaces deliver for

• ther priorities

such as encouraging older people to work outside and reduce isolation, and young people to learn gardening skills.

Ensure that the biodiversity action plan recommendations are acted upon as part of the new Local Plan. Look into the possibility of offering more educational partnerships between the parks service and schools possibility even offering parks education as a BDSIP service. Utilise section 106 funding to support the deep retrofitting programme. Investigate how we can hold developers to account in relation to impacts on air quality. Consider whether clearer ownership within the Cabinet of climate and sustainability issues would

Task and Finish group recommendations on environmental sustainability continued

Next steps

Members and Officers will now work together to develop the recommendations which reflect the work of the Task and Finish groups.