Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment

The requirement to undertake a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) is set out by Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3).  PPS3 requires that a SHLAA be prepared to identify a deliverable supply of housing for the plan period of the Local Development Framework (LDF).  Further detailed practice guidance was also issued by Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in July 2007.

In detail the SHLAA will:

• Identify specific deliverable sites that are ready for development in sufficient numbers to meet the first 5 years of the plan period.
• Identify specific developable sites capable of meeting housing needs for years 6 to 10 and ideally years 11 to 15 of the plan period.
• Where it is not possible to identify specific sites for years 11 to 15 of the plan, broad locations for future growth may be indicated.

A draft SHLAA methodology for undertaking the assessment was consulted on with key stakeholders during November / December 2007.  The comments received are currently being considered in producing the final methodology.

A pro-forma is available for organisations or individuals to complete who wish to notify the Council of sites that they consider may be suitable for future housing development.  The sites may be of any size and located anywhere throughout the Royal Borough.    

At this stage all potential development sites will be examined. However the inclusion of a site within the SHLAA is not an endorsement by the Council that the site is necessarily suitable for development.  All suggested sites will be rigorously tested to determine their suitability and this process will also be informed by public consultation.

For further information on this subject please contact:
Richard Hawkey, Planning Officer,
Planning Policy Unit,
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead,
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF.
Direct line: 01628 796172
Direct e-mail: richard.hawkey@rbwm.gov.uk