Rural housing delivery in Wales How effective is rural exception site policy? May 2018
1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE RTPI AND RTPI CYMRU The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) is the UK's leading planning body for spatial, sustainable and inclusive planning and is the largest planning institute in Europe with around 1,100 members in Wales and a worldwide membership of 25,000. The RTPI is: A membership organisation and a Chartered Institute responsible for maintaining professional standards and accrediting world class planning courses nationally and internationally; A charity whose charitable purpose is to advance the science and art of planning (including town and country and spatial planning) for the benefit of the public; A learned society. To this end, the RTPI promotes research into planning practice, theory, policy development and education. The RTPI s strategic research agenda in the UK aims to: Promote the funding and dissemination of research activity informing and evaluating planning policy and practice; Promote awareness and engagement of planning practitioners in planning research at local, national and international scales; Encourage interdisciplinary and intersectoral research and dialogue; Support research in planning education and lifelong learning. The RTPI is represented throughout the UK and Ireland by RTPI Regions and Nations. RTPI Cymru represents the RTPI in Wales. The RTPI Cymru Policy and Research Forum was established in 2007 to reflect the devolution of town and country planning and the need for the RTPI to respond directly on Wales' policy and practice activities. RTPI Cymru's Policy and Research Forum plays a key role in the work of RTPI Cymru, including: proactively initiating debate and identifying and inputting into relevant research; promoting the case for more resources for planning; linking into Institute policy and practice research and development generally; developing, supplementing and complementing the Institute's know how; leading the debate on culture change; and developing and promoting policies and guidance to members on housing, transport, community engagement, urban design and economic development and regeneration. 1
1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH PROJECT RTPI Cymru recognises that there is a real housing need across Wales, particularly in the delivery of affordable housing. Welsh Government have identified the need to build 20,000 new affordable homes. Rural areas face particular problems in delivering affordable housing partly due to the scale of operation. There has been limited research into this topic, although The Joseph Rowntree Foundation Commission on Housing in Rural Wales commissioned a comprehensive study in 2008 which recommended that a range of interrelated responses to the rural housing challenge were required. RTPI Cymru, through consultation with its members have identified the need to examine the effectiveness of the Rural Exception Site Policy for delivering affordable homes in rural areas. This research is intended to identify issues surrounding the use of exception site policy in providing affordable housing in rural Wales and make initial recommendations on how the policy can be best used to deliver affordable housing, as appropriate. Planning Policy Wales (PPW) requires the provision of affordable housing exception sites to be considered to help ensure the viability of local communities - The release of small housing sites within or adjoining existing settlements for the provision of affordable housing to meet local needs which would not otherwise be allocated in the development plan, is an exception to the policies for general housing provision (PPW, edition 9 and draft edition 10). In England national policy allows some cross subsidy of market housing to help facilitate affordable delivery, however, in Wales national policy is more stringent, stating affordable housing exception sites are not appropriate for market housing, although research evaluating Rural Housing Enablers in Wales (2014) recommended amending planning policy to allow crosssubsidy on rural exception sites. http://gov.wales/docs/caecd/research/2014/140117-evaluationrural-housing-enablers-summary-en.pdf Following discussion with stakeholders, concern has been expressed that some sites have struggled to come forward because of the inflexibility in the policy and the difficulties this causes in delivery and viability of sites. Anecdotal evidence suggests a rigid application of national policy (PPW, edition 9 and TAN 2) by the Planning Inspectorate, including at LDP examination. As a result there is some uncertainty whether rural exception site policy is still a useful tool in the delivery of affordable housing. This research will look at how effective the policy is and whether any improvements can be made to its wording and / or its application to deliver affordable housing. 2 TENDER INFORMATION 2.1 BUDGET This project will be funded up to a maximum and fixed sum of 6,000 (including VAT), with the intention that this be paid in up to three instalments according to agreed project milestones ((i.e. on signing of the contract, delivery of the interim draft report/written update (to be discussed at inception meeting) and the final draft to an acceptable quality standard)). To be discussed further and agreed at the inception meeting. 2
This budget is non-negotiable, however, we would be happy to consider bids that involve matchfunding or co-funding the project, and for research teams to consider how leveraging in additional funding could extend the scope of the proposed project. 2.2 PARTNERSHIP WORKING In recognition of the limited budget for this work, RTPI Cymru is able to assist in the project working in partnership with the appointed research team. Depending on the agreed methodology, this could for example include assisting with a survey component of the project. Bidders are welcome to indicate how this resource could be used. 2.3 ELIGIBILITY Tenders are invited from RTPI accredited planning schools, other university-based research teams/departments, research consultancies and other appropriate organisations. 2.4 PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH The main purpose of this proposed work is therefore: (1) To establish evidence to indicate: i. How widely is rural exception site policy used across Wales? ii. iii. iv. How many affordable units have been approved and how many units have been built using exception site policies over the past five years in rural Wales? How many rural sites have been refused or not progressed due to policy in the same time period? Are there variations of the application of the policy across Wales? v. How do Inspectors at LDP examination consider/interpret the rural exception site policy? vi. How does rural exception site policy in Wales compare with other areas in the UK? Is there good practice in its application to deliver affordable housing? (2) Using this analysis, make recommendations of the usefulness of the policy to deliver affordable housing and whether there are amendments to its wording or application that would improve delivery. 2.5 METHODOLOGY It is envisaged that the methodology will comprise the following main stages and involve both primary and secondary research techniques through desktop and engagement methods. The suggested stages are as follows: Literature review and desktop research; 3
Focus groups and/or interviews with stakeholders to draw out qualitative responses and perspectives, including Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), Rural Housing Enablers, and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) ; Selected case studies (to be agreed) to understand and demonstrate how stakeholders are interpreting and using the policy and the impact it is having; However, we welcome alternative methodological proposals. RTPI Cymru is able to assist in contacting stakeholders, setting up focus groups, interviews and case studies. We are also able to provide feedback on recommendations etc. prior to finalising the project. 2.6 PROJECT TIMESCALES We anticipate that the project will commence immediately and will be completed in October 2018 and the final report published in November 2018. The precise timescale for the project will be determined in collaboration with the selected research team during the inception meeting. An interim report/written update will be sought by a date to be agreed at the inception meeting. 2.7 GOVERNANCE RTPI Cymru has appointed a steering group for this project comprising a member of the RTPI Cymru Management Board, the RTPI Director of Wales, the RTPI Deputy Head of Policy and Research and the RTPI Cymru Policy Officer. The project will be managed by the RTPI Cymru Policy Officer. 2.8 OUTPUTS An interim report/written update (to be discussed at inception meeting); A clearly written research report (all reports, including final reports to be provided in MS Word and Adobe PDF electronic formats), which RTPI Cymru will publish in a suitable form; The report is to be published in English, but the Executive Report will be translated into Welsh by RTPI Cymru. The background work that informs the research report (to be discussed at the inception meeting). The RTPI will also consider other potential places to promote the findings and conclusions from the research (for example, the RTPI s magazines). We welcome ideas about further promotion for the research. 2.9 APPLICATION PROCESS Organisations/project teams should submit a tender document that includes: Proposed methodology, including regarding stakeholder engagement. This should also reflect how the partnership working (outlined in 2.2 above) fits with the proposed methodology; Proposed approach to project management, identifying risks and mitigation strategies, and specifying how the project will be delivered on time and to a high standard; 4
Proposed outputs; Project team and general experience, including short biographies; Statement of experience relevant to the project, and selected projects that demonstrate relevant experience; A timetable; Total cost of the project; and A budget breakdown between the stages, daily rates and personnel inputs. 2.10 EVALUATION CRITERIA Applications will be evaluated against five, equally weighted, criteria: 1. Quality, rigour and depth of the proposed methodology and analysis; 2. Experience/track record/knowledge of research relevant to the project; 3. Experience of effective and impactful partnership working (i.e. with research commissioners); 4. Experience of managing potentially politically-sensitive projects; 5. Value for money. 2.11 ASSESSMENT PANEL An assessment panel comprising members of the project steering group will evaluate tenders and decide which application to support. 2.12 DEADLINES FOR APPLICATIONS Tender applications should be submitted electronically to: walespolicy@rtpi.org.uk by 12 noon on 4th June 2018. It is intended to interview a shortlist of bidders during w/c 11 th June 2018 and to appoint the successful research team by 15 th June 2018. The project will commence immediately, with an inception meeting arranged at as early a date as possible. 2.13 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RTPI Cymru will retain ownership of the work, but will grant the researchers the right to publish and re-use the material submitted to RTPI Cymru, and will be fully credited for their work. Researchers and institutions should not apply if they will not be able to agree to this provision. The researchers should acknowledge the support from RTPI Cymru in any subsequent publications and activity based on the supported projects. 2.14 FURTHER INFORMATION AND ENQUIRIES For enquiries, please contact: Rhian Brimble, MRTPI RTPI Policy Officer / Swyddog Polisi RTPI Cymru PO Box 2465 Cardiff / Caerdydd 5
CF23 0DS Tel / Ffôn: 020 7929 9498 Mobile / Symudol: 07973785122 e-mail / e-bost: rhian.brimble@rtpi.org.uk 6