Affordable Housing Statement

This Statement sets out the provision of affordable housing on the Higher Heyes, Kingsley
development by addressing each of the four points within the condition.

I. The number, type and tenure of the affordable housing provision is as follows:

 1 x three bed house for Shared Ownership*

 4 x one bed flats for Shared Ownership*
 6 x two bed bungalow for Shared Ownership*
 6 x two bed houses for Shared Ownership*

*Shared Ownership eligibility meets the “Homes England Shared Ownership

Eligibility Criteria for Rural Exception Site or equivalent thereof”.

*Should the units struggle to sell after a period of 6 months Liverpool Mutual
Homes would like to reserve the right to convert these units to Affordable Rent.

II. The affordable housing will be owned and managed by Liverpool Mutual Homes. A
sale agreement will transfer the ownership from the landowner to Liverpool Mutual
Homes, prior to development taking place.

III. Liverpool Mutual Homes will ensure the units remain affordable as follows:

 Shared Ownership properties will have a first tranche sale of between 25-75%
of open market value; On initial sale, all properties will be offered at a from
25% share of open market value to eligible persons meeting the criteria
detailed in 1.2a of this statement. Homes England affordability rules require
that customers acquire the maximum initial tranche they can. The rent on the
remaining share of the property will be charged at 2.75% of the remaining
unsold equity in line with Homes England guidelines. Equity will be capped at
80%.

Please note - All shared ownership units will be offered from 25% up to a maximum of
75% as set out in Homes England’s Capital Funding Guide.

IV. The Affordable Housing Provisions contained within this Affordable Housing
Statement shall not be binding or enforceable against a mortgagee or charge (or
any receiver, including an administrative receiver) or manager appointed by such
mortgagee or charge or any person appointed under any security documentation to
enable such mortgagee or charge to realise its security or any administrator
(howsoever appointed) including a housing administrator (each a Receiver) of the
 whole or any part of the Affordable Housing Units (“the Mortgagee”) whether or not
the Mortgagee has gone into possession of a property.

V. Criteria for selection of Eligible Persons – Shared Ownership Properties

1.0 Each shared ownership unit within the Development shall initially and at any time
subsequently upon a vacancy arising, be available to purchase by eligible persons
who meet all the following criteria:

a) Are in Housing Need

b) Are unable to afford to rent or purchase suitably sized housing within the existing
market stock similar to that of the proposed dwelling
c) Initially priority will be given to those having a Local Connection to the Kingsley
Parish as detailed in 1.2 below

1.1 In addition each shared ownership unit within the Development shall initially and at
any time subsequently upon a vacancy arising be available to purchase by eligible
persons who meet the Homes England Shared Ownership Eligibility Criteria or
equivalent thereof.

1.2 Each affordable housing unit within the development shall initially and at any time
subsequently upon a vacancy arising be available to purchase by an Eligible Person
or Eligible Persons who satisfy the following Local Connection criteria in order of
priority:

(a) In the first instance to persons who immediately prior to such allocation:

(i) have been ordinarily resident in Kingsley Parish for the 12 months immediately
preceding the date of application for the Affordable Housing Unit or who have at
any time previously resided in Kingsley Parish for at least 5 years; or

(ii) have a Strong Local Connection with the Kingsley Parish and in seeking to
allocate any Affordable Housing Unit under this sub-clause the following shall be
considered:

a) Has immediate family (parents, children, siblings) who are currently living in
the Kingsley Parish and have done so continuously for at least 5 years
b) Has a permanent contract of employment in the Kingsley Parish Ward or
has accepted in writing a firm offer of permanent employment.
c) Is self employed and able to evidence that the business address from which
they operate is within the Kingsley Parish and has been operational for a
minimum of 12 months.

(b) In the second instance (if within 10 weeks of the vacancy arising no applicant qualifies
 under sub-paragraph (a)) upon any of the affordable housing units within the
development becoming available for occupation whether initially or at any time
subsequently if any vacancy arising is unable to be filled in accordance with the terms
herein before mentioned then the unit of accommodation shall be available for purchase
by a person or persons who are resident in or have a Strong Local Connection with the
neighbouring parishes of Frodsham, Aston, Crowton, Norley and Manley.

(c) In the third instance (if within 14 weeks of the vacancy arising no applicant qualifies
under sub-paragraph (b)) upon any of the affordable housing units within the
development becoming available for occupation whether initially or at any time
subsequently if any vacancy arising is unable to be filled in accordance with the terms
herein before mentioned then the unit of accommodation shall be available for purchase
by a person or persons who are resident in or have a Strong Local Connection with the
administrative areas of the Council.

(d) In the fourth instance (if within 16 weeks of the vacancy arising no applicant qualifies
under sub-paragraph (d)) upon any of the affordable housing units within the
development becoming available for occupation whether initially or at any time
subsequently if any vacancy arising is unable to be filled in accordance with the terms
herein before mentioned then the affordable housing unit shall be available to purchase
by a person or persons who in the opinion of the Council have a need for such
accommodation.

1.3 The cascade described by 1.2 above applies to the initial sale at the development. Any
subsequent resale will be disposed of in accordance with timescales that are 50% of the
above. i.e. 5, 7 and 8 weeks respectively

VI Criteria for Eligible Persons – Rented Properties

1.0 Each affordable rent within the Development shall initially and at any time subsequently
upon a vacancy arising, be available to rent by eligible persons who meet all the following
criteria:

a) Are in Housing Need

b) Are unable to afford to rent or purchase suitably sized housing within the existing market
stock similar to that of the proposed dwelling

c) Initially have a Local Connection to Kingsley Parish but if no suitable households come
forward it can be offered to others in accordance with the same cascade provisions as
in Part V, 1.2 and 1.3.

1.1 In addition, each affordable rented unit shall initially and all subsequent times upon a
 vacancy arising be let to a person who are adjudged by the Council or Registered
Provider (whichever the case be) to be in Housing Need in accordance with the Council’s
Allocations Policy or equivalent thereof.

Definitions

Housing Need – Persons living in unsuitable housing who need to move to solve their housing
situation, to include:

1) Persons currently sharing facilities and forming an emerging or separate new household
2) Persons living in overcrowded, unsafe or poor housing conditions (as defined by
Housing, health and Safety Rating System) where there is a high risk of harm
3) Persons who need to move on medical or welfare grounds, including disability, abuse
or harassment.
4) Persons who are unable to afford their current accommodation or are homeless.
5) Persons moving on from supported accommodation or young people leaving care.
6) Persons who can demonstrate a need to move to be nearer employment or support
networks or to give support to a close family member
7) Persons who have been approved by the local authority for fostering and/or adoption,
but lack suitable accommodation.
8) Persons who are under occupying their current property by at least one bedroom
9) First time buyers

Affordability - Where a combination of income, savings and equity enables a person to

support a mortgage or pay a market rent on a suitably sized, appropriate property within the
parish they will not be eligible for an affordable unit. The maximum income levels are set by
Homes England or any successive agency. There is no maximum equity exclusion for older
persons (aged 55 years and above) applying for shared ownership units. If there are
exceptional circumstances, for example someone in the household has a severe disability
requiring extensive adaptations this will be taken into account when assessing financial
resources.

Suitably sized – When assessing affordability, the number of bedrooms a household requires
will be considered. Taking into account national space standards, one bedroom is needed for
each:

 Single adult or couple

 Two children under 10 regardless of gender
 Two children under 16 of same gender
 Other adults living in the household
 Where an applicant, or member of their household, is expecting a child and
this grants the need for an additional bedroom
 Consideration will also be made where a separate room is required for the
use and/or storage of medical equipment, where a disabled person needs an
overnight carer or for employment purposes
  For shared ownership properties, the number of bedrooms required is as
above list plus one additional bedroom

Strong Local Connection – means Close Family Association or Employment.

Close Family Association – means a close family member of a person or his/her

brother/sister/son/daughter who is resident in the Relevant Area and has been resident there
for a minimum of five continuous years.

Employment – means a person who is self-employed, permanently employed or has accepted

in writing a firm offer of permanent employment within the Relevant Area.

Eligible Persons – any person in need of affordable housing who satisfies the Criteria for
selection of Eligible Persons – V and VI and the expression ‘Eligible Persons’ shall where
the context so admits be construed accordingly.

Parish – the current civil parish area

Borough – the administrative Borough of Cheshire West and Chester.