URL: https://democracy.dacorum.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2581

Decision Maker: Portfolio Holder for Place

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: The Interim Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was formally adopted at the meeting of Cabinet on the 2nd of December 2025.   Paragraphs 1.4 of the Cabinet Report recognised that the Interim Affordable Housing SPD (December 2025) would replace the guidance provided in the ‘Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document’ (Adopted September 2013), for the following reasons:   1)     To ensure that rented affordable housing is genuinely affordable for households in need of such housing. 2)     To take account of changed Government guidance on affordable housing. 3)     To provide updated and expanded guidance on how our planning policies for affordable housing should be applied.   As the Interim Affordable Housing SPD is now adopted, the previous guidance provided by the Affordable Housing SPD (2013) should now be revoked. This will confirm that this document is no longer a material consideration in the decision-making process for planning applications.   Revocation is a technical exercise, which the Council is required to carry out in accordance with section 25 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Regulation 15(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.   No consultation is required, but a revocation statement will be published online, and a notification will be sent to the deposit points (Council offices in Berkhamsted and Tring) and local libraries requesting that they remove hard copies from their reference section.  

Content: The Interim Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was formally adopted at the meeting of Cabinet on the 2nd of December 2025.   Paragraphs 1.4 of the Cabinet Report recognised that the Interim Affordable Housing SPD (December 2025) would replace the guidance provided in the ‘Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document’ (Adopted September 2013), for the following reasons:   1)     To ensure that rented affordable housing is genuinely affordable for households in need of such housing. 2)     To take account of changed Government guidance on affordable housing. 3)     To provide updated and expanded guidance on how our planning policies for affordable housing should be applied.   As the Interim Affordable Housing SPD is now adopted, the previous guidance provided by the Affordable Housing SPD (2013) should now be revoked. This will confirm that this document is no longer a material consideration in the decision-making process for planning applications.   Revocation is a technical exercise, which the Council is required to carry out in accordance with section 25 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Regulation 15(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.   No consultation is required, but a revocation statement will be published online, and a notification will be sent to the deposit points (Council offices in Berkhamsted and Tring) and local libraries requesting that they remove hard copies from their reference section.   In accordance with Regulation 15 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, following the adoption of the Interim Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document, the Council has revoked the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (2013).   As required under Regulation 15, following the revocation of the Affordable Housing SPD (2013), all physical and digital copies of the document will be removed from the Borough Council Offices, public libraries and the Council’s website. A revocation statement will be made available on the Dacorum Borough Council website.   Revoking the superseded Affordable Housing SPD (2013) will help to avoid confusion and make it easier for applicants, officers and elected members when seeking out information on planning policies and determining planning applications. This would also ensure the Council’s framework of supplementary guidance is robust and up to date.  

Date of Decision: February 12, 2026