East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) is taking an important step to addressing the district's need for affordable homes.

The authority has released a draft Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for public consultation.

The initiative aims to ensure affordable housing delivered in East Hampshire meets the specific needs of local communities.

Cllr Angela Glass, EHDC’s portfolio holder for planning, said: “As one of Hampshire's most unaffordable areas, East Hampshire faces significant challenges in providing affordable housing.

“Following the government's introduction of a mandatory housing target of 1,142 homes per year, the draft SPD clarifies existing requirements for affordable housing, helping developers and stakeholders better align with the district's priorities.”

The SPD does not introduce new policies but provides guidance for implementing existing ones. It applies to the area within East Hampshire outside of the South Downs National Park.

Supporting documents, include a Draft Affordable Housing SPD, an Equality Impact Assessment and a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Statement.

Strategic Environmental Assessment, a Habitats Regulations Assessment, Screening Statement and an Equality Impact Assessment, are also available for review.

Documents can be viewed online or in person at local libraries (Petersfield, Alton, Liphook, and Bordon), Horndean Parish Council office, and East Hampshire District Council’s offices by appointment.

The draft SPD is available for consultation to the end of Monday, April 28, via https://tinyurl.com/EHDC-affordable-housing.

If you’re unable to submit your views electronically, post your written comments to the Planning Policy Team, EHDC, PO Box 310, Petersfield, GU32 9HN.

Following consultation, the council will collate all responses and publish on the council's website in summary form in a statement of consultation.

The council will consider any issues raised and whether any final changes to the SPD are necessary. Once this is completed, the council will be seeking to adopt the SPD.