Housing
Q: We only need affordable housing; we don't need any more market value housing
Unfortunately, we can't force developers to provide affordable housing only; they generally make more profit from building fewer, larger houses. Public feedback suggested that at least 100 affordable homes are needed. The planning requirements for the Marlborough area are that, for developments of 10 houses or more, 40% must be affordable. This means that at least 220 houses in total need to be built. In the call for sites, where landowners were asked if they had land available for housing and other community facilities, preference was given to landowners who offered more than 40% affordable housing. Policies in the draft Plan will also emphasise that priority with future planning applications should be made to those ensuring an affordable housing element (and that planning proposals for retirement complexes, which have no legal requirement to provide an affordable element, should not be supported).