The Housing Enabling Team monitors and delivers new affordable housing in Harrow. They aim to provide as much affordable housing as possible. The Greater London Authority (GLA), Registered Providers (RPs) and private developers help us with this aim. This is in line with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Section 106.
Section 106 Schemes
Section 106 agreements, also known as planning obligations, are agreements between developers and local planning authorities. They are negotiated as part of a condition of planning consent. The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 enables local authorities to negotiate contributions. These go towards a range of infrastructure and services, such as:
- Community facilities
- Public open space
- Transport improvements
- And/or affordable housing.
The maximum reasonable amount of affordable housing, will be sought from residential schemes that are capable of providing 10 residential units or more. This is in line with the London Plan and Local Development Framework (LDF) Policy.
You can view our approach to negotiating planning obligations and affordable housing in the Planning obligations supplementary planning document.
Developers
Developers will be expected to submit a Financial Viability Assessment, if required to do so under London Plan policy. This is to show how much affordable housing can be delivered on their scheme.
Talks between residential developers, the Planning department and Enabling team should start early if part of the development is for affordable housing. Moreover the discussions should take place before the planning application is submitted.
The Enabling team will advise on the type and size of affordable housing needed on individual schemes. The Enabling team will also provide details of suitable Registered Provider partners working in Harrow.
View the Affordable Housing Planning Obligation - Pre Application Guidance.