Is the 7500 dpa/30-60% target sufficiently well justified to warrant relinquishing the RPG10 target range?
Opinion was divided. Some participants want a firm target of 10,000 p.a. affordable units. Several participants felt that 60% was unachievable and would stifle market provision and that increase in volume of affordable units would require an overall increase. There was also discussion about whether the 7,500 figure is a target or a guideline for monitoring and how individual authorities should interpret it in light of local circumstances. The RPB response was that the figure is based on urgent and high level need for affordable housing. The technical case for 7,500-15,000 was based on the backlog of affordable housing need and the future level of need. Planning Authorities wishing to exceed 30% by a significant margin would need to demonstrate strong evidence that the higher level could be delivered without reducing the overall rate of housing development. 7,500 is seen as a stretching but achievable, target that is considerably higher than actual delivery of affordable housing achieve
