Westminster Draft POAH SPD Consultation

Good afternoon, 

I’m writing to let you know that we are launching a second round of consultation on our draft Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (POAH SPD) (July 2023) and draft Informal Planning Guidance Note on Affordable Workspace (July 2023). 

The draft POAH SPD provides further detail and guidance on how to implement the adopted City Plan’s policies. It gives details on how developers can make development acceptable in planning terms and includes guidance on issues such as:

• affordable housing;
• affordable workspace;
• employment and skills contributions; and
• carbon off-setting.

In line with Regulations, the council consulted on a first draft POAH SPD in March 2022. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond. You will find commentary on how consultation feedback has been considered and has informed changes to the revised draft POAH SPD (July 2023) in the Consultation Statement (July 2023).

We received a wide range of responses to the original consultation with the topic areas generating the most comments being affordable housing, affordable workspace, employment and skills, carbon off-setting and viability. 

Key updates to the previous draft include:  

• The suggestion that new housing available at intermediate rents (for which key workers have priority) should be more affordable to households on lower to average incomes, those earning between £25,000 and £60,000. Previously, developers had been encouraged to also provide below market rent homes to households earning up to £90,000. The council is also discouraging shared ownership which isn’t suitable for central London. 
• Updated guidance on affordable workspace and employment and skills contributions to support start-ups and help residents get access to the jobs created by new developments. 
• Occupiers of new residential developments will no longer be entitled to an on-street parking permit. This will reduce the pressure on on-street parking generated by new development and help clean the air. 
• The carbon offset payment, due where developments do not meet zero-carbon standards, is increased from £95 to £880/tCO₂. Any funds generated will be spent on carbon-saving initiatives elsewhere in Westminster.  
• Revised monitoring and late payment fees will help the council better monitor development compliance and take enforcement action when needed. 

Respondents also asked the council to publish the evidence underpinning the SPD guidance, including up to date viability evidence. That’s why we are also now publishing our key supporting evidence:

• Affordable Workshop Evidence Note (July 2023);
• Delivering Net Zero (2023);
• POAH SPD Equalities Impact Assessment (July 2023);
• City Plan and POAH SPD Viability Study (July 2023).

Although the council is not legally required to reconsult on the final draft SPD, we want to give you an opportunity to let us know if you support the changes we have made to the draft SPD, the draft informal Planning Guidance Note on Affordable Workspace and the supporting evidence. If you submitted a response on the previous draft, you do not need to submit this again where the document hasn’t changed.

Today, we are also publishing a revised Inclusive Local Economy & Employment Note (July 2023) which supersedes the November 2021 one. The note has been updated to take into account changes to the Use Class Order and comes into effect immediately.

The consultation is open for seven weeks until Friday 29^th September 2023.

Please send responses and comments to planningpolicy@westminster.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,  

Cllr Geoff Barraclough 

Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development

Westminster City Council