Housing Land Allocation Process

Housing allocations in local development plans should be informed by: • RDS Housing Growth Indicators (HGIs) – have been incorporated within the RDS as a guide to councils in preparing development plans. They provide an estimate for the new dwellings requirement for each area and provide a guide for allocating housing distribution across the plan area. The indicator covers both urban and rural housing. • Use of the RDS housing evaluation framework – which takes account of the varying capacities of settlements and will assist councils in making judgements on the allocation of housing growth. • Allowance for existing housing commitments – Councils should take account of dwellings already constructed, approvals not yet commenced and residential development proposals likely to be approved. • Urban capacity studies – Councils should assess the potential for future housing growth within the urban footprint and the capacity for different types and densities of housing. The urban capacity study should take account of housing development opportunities arising from previously developed land, infill sites, conversion of existing buildings, and possible changes of land use. Consideration needs to be given to the type of housing and density appropriate to each site in order to assess the number of housing units likely to be generated. The urban capacity study should be published as a technical supplement to the draft plan. • Allowance for Windfall housing – Windfall potential is central to the assessment of future housing land requirement and is a key element of the urban capacity study. Windfall potential arising from previously developed land within the urban footprint can be a key source of housing supply over the course