Ben Smith’s Post

The Live Local Act requires developers to dedicate at least 40% of units to affordable housing to obtain the density, height, intensity, and other land use and zoning benefits. Critics argue that these incentives provide significant relief and concessions for developers without enough consideration for the affordability component. However, this critique assumes that affordable units would be provided in many of these buildings to begin with—which is not the case. The Act takes a major step toward addressing an issue broadly felt across the State, and while not perfect, it is a [big] step in the right direction. Further, development costs have risen dramatically since 2020, and the dearth of much-needed affordable units makes building them unfeasible without concessions or incentives. Even with the Act’s land use and zoning incentives, numerous hurdles and compliance requirements nuance the ability to use the Act and/or nullify its benefits. Reliance on private developers to help solve Florida’s housing shortages both limits and signifies the value of the Live Local Act. Concern about the Act’s potential impact on local communities underestimates the role that market dynamics play in getting a development beyond the conceptual stage. The ability to develop on a site is not sufficient by itself to make a project feasible— things like location, financing, costs, and demographics all play critical roles as well.  The ultimate effectiveness of the Act will be as market dynamics and development trends ultimately determine where and how many projects use the Act #TheEuclidGroup #RealEstateDevelopment #PublicPrivatePartnerships #LiveLocalAct #AffordableHousing

Those uniform, national zoning regulations tend to allow for more mixed-use neighborhoods, denser and more multi-family housing, along with faster and cheaper construction. Additionally, developers aren't held back by burdensome regulatory processes that slow down construction and inflate costs. https://lnkd.in/ggCV2-Rh

🌆 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗔𝗕 𝟭𝟮𝟴𝟳: 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴! 🌆 AB 1287 is making waves by building on the Density Bonus Law, a game-changer for developers and communities alike. This statute is all about encouraging the construction of more affordable housing options. Here's how it works: developers who dedicate a portion of their projects to Very-Low, Low, or Moderate Income housing can unlock density bonuses and other benefits. The more they commit to affordability, the greater the rewards! This legislation is a win-win, promoting inclusivity while helping developers bring more housing options to our communities. Let's continue to support smart growth and inclusive housing for all! Learn More: https://bit.ly/4dM64pa #AffordableHousing #CommunityGrowth #SmartDevelopment #YDSArchitects

The Government has proposed another round of reforms to permitted development rights to boost housing numbers in England. But the changes could lead to a reduction in standards, loss of green infrastructure and erosion of placemaking. Supply is critical but quality matters. The #NRLA wants to see more safe, high quality homes made available. However, permitted development necessarily has limits and is not the mechanism to deliver this. ✅ Removal of restrictions for development with minimal impact that will support efforts to decarbonise e.g. installation of EV charging infrastructure and air source heat pumps. ❎ Further easing of rights to extend outwards and upwards threatens to reduce safety and quality standards and undermine the plan-led system. We need a housing strategy encompassing all tenures that prioritises quality, sustainability and the well-being of communities. Not a misplaced reliance on permitted development to deliver housing. https://lnkd.in/e37ZnZk4 #housingcrisis #housingsupply #PRS #planningreform #PDRs

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐊 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝟑𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟕. The key to boosting housebuilding lies in planning reform. 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎, 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭. There just aren't enough incentives or repercussions to get developers building. Preventing developers from holding undeveloped land for extended periods of time, for example, could be key to making progress. One thing is clear, and that's that Labour's planning reforms need to be far more drastic. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ebTadewi #PlanningReform #HousingPolicy #HousingTargets #HousingCrisis

𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁: 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁, 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗗𝗖 Image from Summix Capital, credit: https://lnkd.in/e3fvrRsN - Land at Browns Lane This appeal relates to a strategically located site that enables the opportunity to meet the affordable housing needs of two authorities simultaneously. The main lessons again for a site are clear: -Location; accessible and sustainable near existing facilities and services. This remains a key hurdle to clear in any case. -Going beyond the numbers expected in a 'broad development location' was not enough to conclude the undermining of the spatial strategy. -Locational policy conflict need not be determinative of an appeal. (DL 17-41) There was a significant debate about coalescence and impact on character and appearance, as well as heritage impacts. Rather than struggle with this, the site moves built development far from the nearest settlement boundary, keeping 58% of the site as public open space. -Spatial and visual perception of coalescence does not mean there is unacceptable harm. Suitable detailed design proposals can help make it acceptable and mitigated. (DL 42-61) Affordable housing: local policy expects 40% - the scheme offers 100%. -The current need undeniable. The delivery and supply woeful. -Registered Provider Platform Housing Group on board and giving evidence. -The Council argued this would not lead to a 'mixed and balanced' community. The Inspector's conclusion: "There is no substantive evidence, despite the face value policy tension, to show that the absence of market housing will mean that the development will not in practice lead to a mixed and balanced community that encourages social cohesion and inclusion and reduce inequalities..." (DL 62-91) The Planning Balance section is worth a read for its approach to the whole case clearly and comprehensively. (DL115-131). Hashi Mohamed acted for the appellant. For more information, including links to the appeal decision, please follow this link - https://bit.ly/4ffy7y0

❌ Why ‘decent homes’ simply isn’t good enough... 🚗 Unlike when you buy a car, there is no single comprehensive MOT for homes which would provide assurance to prospective tenants, buyers, landlords and developers that a newly built home is safe or even of a good standard. This article for Chartered Institute of Housing by the TCPA's Rosalie Callway looks at the poorly resourced, fragmented and reactive system of rules around housing quality and explains why it needs comprehensive reform. https://lnkd.in/eKfyf-qA

#LiveLocal applies to #forsale units as well. The #LiveLocalAct incentivizes #construction of #affordable and #workforce-priced #rentals by giving #developers major #taxbreaks, as well as allowing them to build taller buildings with more #units than allowed in #counties and #municipalities and whiz by local #governmentapprovals. Developers must designate at least 40 percent of units for rent at or below 120 percent of the area median #income for at least 30 years to qualify under the Live Local Act. For #mixeduse projects, at least 65 percent of the total square footage must be residential to qualify. https://lnkd.in/edBfwQmf

Learn about the latest in-fill affordable housing reforms. Dive into the details and stay ahead in the evolving landscape of housing development. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g6ssuGsj #ProjectLawyers #AffordableHousing #HousingReforms #LegalInsight #LegalUpdates

From my latest Housing Affordability Institute commentary outlining why housing allowed on paper also needs to be allowed in practice: "What the public perceives as zoning — density and housing typology — reflects what is allowed on paper. The performance standards (bulk controls, dedications, conditions, etc.) dictate if what is allowed on paper is also allowed in practice. Here’s the secret about by-right approvals that is often left out of the by-right discussion: by-right isn’t actually by-right when local policies are designed, either carelessly or intentionally, to drive projects into a discretionary review." https://lnkd.in/eRX8uyHb #housing #housingpolicy #homebuilding #planning