Belfast·SPG001 Affordable Housing and Housing Mix·Page 42·5.2.22
Commuted sums as last resort
Financial payments (commuted sums) in lieu of on-site affordable housing are only considered in exceptional circumstances after all other options have been ruled out, as the Council's preference is for on-site delivery as part of a sustainable, mixed tenure development.
As outlined above, the use of a financial payment (or 'commuted sum') in lieu of on-site delivery of affordable housing is a last resort that will only be considered in exceptional circumstances once the prior options outlined under sustainability and financial viability grounds have been ruled out. The Council's preference will always be to secure affordable housing on the site as part of a sustainable, mixed tenure development.
Source — /Users/richardhill/Documents/planning-arch-project/data/documents/belfast/SPG001 Affordable Housing and Housing Mix.pdf