A report outlining how affordable housing is delivered across Rushcliffe is due to be considered by councillors later this month, setting out the types of homes available, how they are secured through the planning system, and the limits of the Borough Council’s control over their allocation and management.
The document, prepared ahead of a meeting of the Growth and Development Scrutiny Group on 25 March, provides an overview of affordable housing products delivered on new developments and explains how they are negotiated through Section 106 planning agreements alongside the Council’s Local Plan and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document.
Affordable housing is defined in the report as homes provided below market rates for households unable to access suitable accommodation on the open market.
In Rushcliffe this includes a mix of rented and ownership products such as social rent, affordable rent, shared ownership, First Homes and discounted market sale, each with different costs, eligibility criteria and long-term implications for residents.
The report highlights that rented housing, particularly social rent, remains the most affordable option for lower-income households, although supply is limited and waiting times can be long.
Affordable rent, which can be set at up to 80 per cent of market levels, is more widely available but may still be unaffordable for some. Ownership-based products such as shared ownership and First Homes are designed to help people onto the property ladder, but can still present financial challenges due to deposits, service charges and ongoing costs.
Evidence from the most recent Greater Nottingham and Ashfield Housing Needs Assessment indicates that Rushcliffe requires around 507 affordable homes per year, with the majority of need focused on rented accommodation rather than home ownership.
Current policy reflects this, with an expected tenure split of around 75 per cent rented homes and 25 per cent affordable home ownership on qualifying sites.
The proportion of affordable housing required varies across the borough depending on location, with developments in areas including West Bridgford, Gamston and Ruddington typically expected to deliver around 30 per cent affordable housing, compared to 20 per cent in places such as Bingham and Keyworth, and 10 per cent in Cotgrave.
In practical terms, the report sets out how this would apply to a typical development. On a 100-home scheme in West Bridgford, around 30 homes would be required as affordable housing, with the majority provided as social or affordable rent and a smaller proportion as home ownership products.
However, councillors are also advised that the Council has limited control over how affordable homes are marketed, allocated and managed once delivered.
As a non-stock holding authority, Rushcliffe Borough Council does not own housing itself and does not oversee sales or resales of ownership products. These responsibilities sit with developers and registered housing providers, who must comply with national rules and planning agreements.
The Council’s primary role is therefore to set policy, negotiate with developers through Section 106 agreements, and monitor compliance to ensure agreed levels of affordable housing are delivered. Where on-site provision is not possible, developers may instead make financial contributions towards affordable housing elsewhere.
Data included in the report shows that delivery of affordable housing in Rushcliffe has increased over the past five years, rising from 106 homes in 2020/21 to 293 in 2024/25. Shared ownership has grown significantly during this period, although rented housing continues to make up the largest share overall when combined.
Despite this increase, the report identifies ongoing challenges, including a mismatch between supply and demand, particularly for rented homes, and wider market pressures affecting viability. National issues such as a shortage of registered providers and stalled development sites over the past two years have also affected delivery, with some schemes relying on First Homes as the only viable option.
The report concludes that while a range of affordable housing products is being delivered, affordability gaps remain and not all options are accessible to lower-income households. It also notes that factors such as service charges and estate management fees, which are set by developers or managing agents, can affect long-term affordability but are outside the Council’s control.
Members of the scrutiny group are being asked to note the range of affordable housing products available, recognise the importance of working with developers and housing providers, and acknowledge the Council’s limited influence over how some schemes operate once completed.
No formal decisions on policy changes are being taken at this stage, but the report is intended to inform councillors and support ongoing monitoring of affordable housing delivery as new developments come forward across the borough.
