In a very important change to Planning Practice Guidance on Planning Obligations the Government has introduced Vacant Building Credits to accelerate the delivery of brown field housing sites.
If there are vacant buildings on a development site and they are to be demolished, or, if they are brought back into any lawful use, the existing gross floorspace should be "credited" against the calculation of the affordable housing contribution. This could significantly reduce the affordable housing costs in S106 Agreements.
It is now necessary to review the strategy for affordable housing contributions on all sites containing existing buildings.
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