The Almshouse Association continues to apply pressure to government with regards to protecting almshouse charities from becoming unintended casualties of new legislation and we are pleased to have the support of a growing number of MPs.

This week, CEO Nick Phillips met with Ben Everitt MP at Westminster to seek his support for the amendment to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) affordable housing definition to ensure almshouses are recognised. A significant lead on the Levelling Up Housing and Communities Committee, Ben was very encouraging and a champion of affordable housing. His support is invaluable and we thank him for his time and interest in the almshouse movement.  

Also this week in House of Commons Written Answers:

HoC Written Answer: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Almshouses: Planning  

Siobhain McDonagh (Lab) (Mitcham and Morden): (195628) To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance his Department issues to local planning authorities on support for almshouses that are not Regulated Social Landlords under the terms of section 106 affordable housing.

Rachel Maclean (Con) (Redditch): The department does not issue guidance to local planning authorities specifically on this matter. It is up to local planning authorities to determine what contributions should be sought through Section 106 agreements, in line with statutory tests on their use set out in regulation 122 of the Community Infrastructure Regulations 2010. The department has published guidance on planning obligations to support local authorities with their use. As part of the National Planning Policy Framework consultation between 22 December 2022 and 2 March 2023, we sought views on how we can help bring forward more community-led housing, including almshouses. We expect to publish a response to the consultation this Autumn.

Our thanks to Siobhain McDonagh MP for her persistence and determination to ensure almshouses remain on the housing agenda. We look forward to reading the response to the NPPF consultation this autumn.

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posted 13 September 2023