The shortage of affordable housing is a national issue and is one of the greatest challenges facing many communities in Snowdonia.
The Snowdonia National Park Authority does not build houses nor is it a housing authority. However, as the Authority responsible for planning in the Snowdonia National Park, we try to make sure new buildings or conversions are of a type needed by people who live and work locally.
We do this through:
• our policies in the Eryri Local Development Plan and our Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance
• supporting the work of two Rural Housing Enablers who work on behalf of local communities to carry out housing need surveys and come up with tailor-made solutions to meet identified local housing need. There is a Rural Housing Enabler for those parts of the National Park which lie in Gwynedd, and another working within the Conwy area.
• working closely with Gwynedd local housing authority and Conwy local housing authority.
• working closely with the housing associations operating within Snowdonia National Park namely Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd in the south of the Park and in the Conwy area and Cymdeithas Tai Eryri in the north of the Park. These associations have properties to rent or buy a share in, or you can register your interest in Affordable Home ownership with them.
Affordable housing includes social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to eligible households in housing need. Proposed occupiers of affordable housing must also satisfy the local person criteria. The definition of ‘housing need’ and ‘local person’ is included on page 75 of the Eryri Local Development Plan.
For an explanation of the Welsh Government definitions of affordable housing that we use, please look at the Welsh Government Technical Advice Note 2: Planning and Affordable Housing .
We use legal agreements, known as Section 106’s, to make sure that houses remain affordable to a local person, not just for the first occupant but for future residents too.
We have prepared a checklist for applicants who intend to submit a planning application for an affordable dwelling to meet local needs.
Checklist for Applicant’s submitting a planning application for Affordable Dwellings.
Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance
A copy of a Section 106 legal agreement can be obtained by the Authority's Legal Department.
Guidance Note on Pre-Application Advice to potential developers. This note gives further information about how to obtain pre-application advice before submitting a planning application.
Snowdonia National Park Authority, National Park Offices, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd LL519DX
Telephone: 01766772274 e-mail: parc@snowdonia-npa.gov.uk www.snowdonia-npa.gov.uk