5.1 Policy H3 (Part 3) of the Coventry Local Plan 2017 asserts the need to achieve sustainable development through appropriate design of housing. This is applicable to both market and affordable housing, which ensures appropriate residential amenity and quality of living, no matter the type or tenure of home.

5.2 This SPD is limited as to the requirements it can place on the development of new affordable housing; however, it is reiterated that the design of affordable housing units must be demonstrably sustainable and exhibit the highest levels of residential amenity. This should include consideration of the following:

• Internal layout and dimensions;
• Access to green and outside space;
• Responsiveness to immediate surroundings;
• Connectivity; and
• Resilience to environmental influences (such as air quality, land contamination and climate change).

5.3 By duly considering these principles, development should achieve affordable housing that provides a high standard of living and residential amenity. This level of consideration should be applied to both market and affordable housing that is delivered in the city ensuring that there is no material difference between dwelling tenure types. This to ensure socially cohesive and sustainably mixed communities.

5.4 Historically, a larger proportion of one- and two-bedroom dwellings has been developed for affordable housing. This reflected the changing demographic of the city, with increasing generation of single-person or smaller-family households.

5.5 The Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2015 is a significant input of Local Plan 2017 Policy H6 Affordable Housing, which indicated the demands for a range of housing sizes, types and tenures in Coventry and its wider housing market area. In the first instance, the assessment established that there was a demand for 2 and 3 bedroomed affordable homes, and this has been the basis for Coventry City Council’s objective in seeking the delivery of affordable housing in the city. The breakdown of the housing demand and requirements established in the SHMA is provided below:

          SHMA 2015 Housing Mix Need 

Market	1-bed	2-bed	3-bed	4-bed
	5-10%	25-30%	40-45%	20-25%
Affordable	1-bed	2-bed	3-bed	4-bed
	20-25%	30-35%	25-30%	15-20%

5.6 However, as Policies H4 and H6 state, to ensure that the evolving needs of the city can be met, this requirement has some degree of flexibility. The breakdown of needs provided by the SHMA should be the starting point for any discussion with the Council as to the delivery of an appropriate mix of affordable housing.

5.7 Information provided by Registered Providers as well as data from Coventry City Council Housing indicates a rising need for family sized housing, which includes 2, 3 and 4-bedroomed homes. This reflects the changing social needs of the city and affordability pressures experienced within Coventry.

5.8 It is the objective of the City Council to relieve the affordable housing pressures that the city is experiencing. The significant number of family households on the Housing Register indicates a deficit in the availability of affordable family homes in the city.

5.9 It is expected that the delivery of on-site affordable housing will reflect the housing types that are required to meet the affordable housing needs of the city and as such, the Council expects an affordable housing mix in accordance with the figures set out below. These utilise the need identified in the 2015 SHMA, but maximise this mix to meet the demand arising from the increasing numbers of family-sized households on the city’s Housing Register.

Affordable	1-bed	2-bed	3-bed	4-bed
	20%	30%	30%	20%

5.10 Part 7 of Policy H6 establishes how affordable housing size and typology may be identified through dialogue with various interested parties to achieve the most appropriate and affordable housing type. This may vary spatially, as well as over time and between particular registered providers.

5.11 The City Council will actively seek the delivery of affordable housing that meets high of living standards. As such, the Council promotes the use, and reference of, the Nationally Described Space Standards as an initial framework in achieving affordable homes with satisfactory internal living space. Through active dialogue with the Council and registered providers, it is considered that this can be realistically achieved.

5.12 The delivery of affordable housing, where units are offered up to a Registered Provider, should take into consideration these standards but also the management regimen that will minimise costs and so, service charges payable.

5.13 The provision of high-quality design and space standards should also form part of a wider, holistic approach to affordable residential development. This will include consideration of access to outside, private amenity space as well as carefully considered development layouts.

5.14 Part 6 of Policy H6 outlines the general requirements of the Council for the integration of affordable homes within a residential development. It is envisaged that affordable homes, of any tenure, should be provided within residential development in appropriate locations that promote this integration. This will be informed through the evolution of design proposals, with commensurate inputs from the Council and affordable housing providers. Realistic management practices will form part of this process to minimise costs and retain affordability in perpetuity.

5.15 Within flatted developments, communal facilities provided as part of any proposal should be accessible by all residents. This ensures that affordable housing residents are not indirectly discriminated against through the final built design of any development and maintains social integration and cohesiveness.

Example of Affordable Housing at Stretton Avenue, Coventry – Image courtesy of Citizen

Co-living proposals

5.16 Coventry City Council recognise the ongoing evolution and diversification of the national housing market which has resulted in the emergence of new housing typologies to cater for demands of innovative forms of housing.

5.17 Co-living is recognised as a form of housing to bridge the gap between highly managed student accommodation and unregulated house-sharing for younger people and those seeking alternative, niche accommodation types. It is a housing product that is regarded as more affordable, but also offers a lifestyle that is a communal and collaborative that also maintains are strong sense of independence for individual residents.

5.18 The City Council is keen to ensure that new housing types such as co-living can be realised and delivered in the city which can contribute towards meeting the housing needs of the city, but also the demands of the market arising from various demographic groups of the community.

5.19 It is considered that co-living developments will not be suitable to provide on-site affordable housing units given the high level of management required, the size standards of individual units and the extent of shared and communal facilities. Management of such sites therefore is prohibitive in providing on-site affordable housing.

5.20 However, the Council will seek an off-site financial contribution in-lieu of on-site physical provision of affordable housing. This financial payment, in the form of a commuted sum, will be calculated utilising the formula referenced in Part 7 of this Supplementary Planning Document.

Advanced Methods of Construction

5.21 The City Council recognises that advanced methods of construction (‘AMC’) can provide a cheaper and more efficient means of achieving affordable housing products. This can reduce issues around viability and assist in delivering affordable housing in contexts which may prohibit more traditional methods of construction.

5.22 Furthermore, it is considered that advanced methods are also more likely to achieve higher level of energy efficient and so reduce energy costs for residents, whilst also contributing towards a net zero carbon future.

5.23 Although examples of AMC affordable housing are limited in Coventry, there are instances where advanced methods of construction have delivered housing of high and sustainable quality. Citizen Housing have delivered modular homes, a form of AMC, in Coventry, an image of which can be seen below.

Modular housing delivered at Littlethorpe, Coventry by Citizen Housing (image courtesy of Citizen)

5.24 Affordable housing products are also being delivered via AMC within the wider West Midlands metropolitan area. Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust have initiated a programme in delivering affordable homes utilising modular methods that achieve a high level of sustainability and cost effectiveness that delivers homes of good quality, quickly.

Modular affordable home delivered in Birmingham – image courtesy of Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust

5.25 Coventry City Council will encourage proposals to deliver affordable homes via Advanced Methods of Construction, particularly in cases where it can overcome viability issues and contribute towards achieving high performing, energy-efficient homes.