Poppyfields Close, Darley Dale
Local Lettings Policy

Platform Housing Group and Derbyshire Dales District Council
10 June 2014

Note: this Local Lettings Policy applies to all rented properties on this development for both initial and all subsequent lets.

The site

The Poppyfields Close housing development was built on land at the former Gracelands Garden Centre, Darley Dale. The development is all for affordable housing, in accordance with Derbyshire Dales Housing Portfolio. The development consists of bungalows, flats and houses for Affordable Rent, 24 units, and 10 shared ownership. The first homes on the site were completed in July 2014.

Property Numbers, Type & Tenure

2 No. One bedroomed, two person flats (Affordable Rent)
7 No. Two bedroomed, three person houses (Affordable Rent)
6 No. Two bedroomed, four person houses (Affordable Rent)
4 No. Two bedroomed, four person flats (Affordable Rent)
2 No. Two bedroomed, four person bungalow (Affordable Rent)
3 No. Three bedroomed, five person houses (Affordable Rent)

5 No. Two bedroomed, three person houses (Shared Ownership)
1 No. Two bedroomed, four person house (Shared Ownership)
4 No. Three bedroomed, five person houses (Shared Ownership)

Link to Google Street Map of general area (opens in a new window).

Reason for the Local Lettings Policy and background

Derbyshire Dales District Council, through its Housing Strategy has a responsibility to help its residents have good quality homes and housing services which meet their needs, and help create sustainable, mixed and balanced communities.

In addition, the Council’s planning policy, requires that developments granted planning permission under this policy provide affordable housing that meets a genuine local housing need. The planning permission granted for this site sets out the allocation criteria to ensure that local needs are being met. This criteria is reflected in this Local Lettings Policy.

Legal Framework

This approach complies with the government’s guidance issued through the Allocation of accommodation: guidance for local housing authorities in England (DCLG, June 2012). This guidance allows councils and housing providers to use local lettings policies to achieve a wide range of policy objectives.

The Local Lettings Policy Criteria – initial lets and subsequent re-lets (applies to rented units only)

Platform Housing Group and Derbyshire Dales District Council are proposing a local lettings policy which reflects key features in order to ensure a sustainable, mixed and balanced community on this development, and to comply with the Council’s planning policies.

The criteria will be followed for all initial lets and subsequent re-lets until all affordable homes on the development have been let. The anticipated date for this is Summer 2014.

Applications must be registered with the Derbyshire Dales District Council’s Home-Options scheme or any other scheme which may replace it. 100% of the properties will be allocated both on initial lets and subsequent re-lets, through the District Council’s Home-Options Scheme.

Local connection

In the first instance, applicants will be residents of Darley Dale Parish or its smaller Adjoining Parishes within Derbyshire Dales of Beeley, Rowsley, Northwood and Tinkersley, Stanton and South Darley. The smaller adjoining parishes of Darley Dale have been included for consideration in the first instance as there are limited opportunities for residents to meet their housing need within these smaller parishes.

Properties will be allocated based on housing need in accordance with the Home Options Choice Based Lettings Scheme, and preference will be given by local connection as outlined in Appendix A (see below).

Mutual Exchanges

Mutual exchanges will be allowed into and out of the development in accordance with Platform Housing Group and other landlords’ normal processes, although there will still be a requirement to meet the local connection criteria as outlined in Appendix A. For more details about mutual exchange, see the Exchange Locata website.

Shared Ownership Properties

There will be ten houses on this development for Shared Ownership.

This will be sold to people unable to afford to buy a suitable property in the area. They are sold on a part-rent/part buy basis.

For more details see the Help to Buy website: Link to Help to Buy website.

Platform Housing Group will endeavour to agree the sale of this property to a household with a local connection to Darley Dale or its smaller adjoining parishes within Derbyshire Dales of Beeley, Rowsley, Northwood and Tinkersley, Stanton and South Darley (local connection is defined in appendix A) and a need for this type of property.

However, if unsuccessful, after a marketing campaign of the property, Platform Housing Group can agree the sale to other households in Derbyshire Dales with a need for this type of property.

Review date

This Local Lettings Policy will be reviewed in October 2014 and six monthly until all the affordable homes have been let.

Appendix A - Local connection

a) People living continuously for a period of no less than 6 months or having lived previously for a period of no less than 12 months in the previous 5 years in Darley Dale Parish or its smaller adjoining parishes in Derbyshire Dales of Beeley, Rowsley, Northwood and Tinkersley, Stanton and South Darley.
b) People who have an essential need to live close to other people who are living in the Parish of Darley Dale, or its smaller adjoining parishes in Derbyshire Dales of Beeley, Rowsley, Northwood and Tinkersley, Stanton and South Darley, to receive support or care 
c) People who have an essential need to give support or care, to someone who is living in the Parish of Darley Dale or its smaller adjoining parishes in Derbyshire Dales of Beeley, Rowsley, Northwood and Tinkersley, Stanton and South Darley.
d) People who have an essential need to live close to their work in the Parish of Darley Dale or its smaller adjoining parishes in Derbyshire Dales of Beeley, Rowsley, Northwood and Tinkersley, Stanton and South Darley.

Should no household meet the above criteria in the Parish or smaller adjoining parishes in Derbyshire Dales then the properties will be let to applicants from Derbyshire Dales.