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Use of Commuted Sums

Published: 11/06/2015

Finding more flexible ways to provide affordable housing in Flintshire will be discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday 16 June. A commuted sum is money paid by a developer to the Council where the size of a housing development requires the provision of affordable housing, but it isn’t possible to achieve appropriate affordable housing on the site. Cabinet Members will be asked to approve a policy on how commuted sums are spent to support the delivery of affordable housing across the County. Using Section 106 agreements, commuted sums will be earmarked to enable the provision of affordable housing through a variety of means. These include the purchase of land for affordable housing; initiatives that support housing regeneration projects, including offering loans to tackle empty homes; and financial contribution towards the development of both affordable or social rented accommodation and low cost home ownership schemes. Wherever possible, the money derived from commuted sums will be spent within the same Community Council area as they were generated. The Council will use the money within five years from the date the sum was received. Councillor Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Affordable housing is high on this Council’s list of priorities, and using commuted sums in a flexible way proves our commitment to ensuring that all our residents have an opportunity to access their own home locally.”