Housing Standards

This Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) guides developers on housing requirements and supplements the housing policies of the Portsmouth Plan that was adopted in 2012.

This document has also been informed by the National Planning Policy Framework, which states that local planning authorities should ‘deliver a wide choice of high-quality homes, widen opportunities for home ownership and create sustainable, inclusive, and mixed communities.’

Despite demands, the market alone has not delivered enough homes in Portsmouth that are affordable and spacious enough for the average household, particularly those with families.

This SPD aims to ensure that the housing delivered is of the appropriate size, density, distribution, and affordability to create high-quality homes and communities.

This document does not provide additional guidance for every housing policy in the Portsmouth Plan. For example, separate SPDs are being prepared for:
• PCS15 Sustainable design and construction
• PCS20 Houses in Multiple Occupations

The ‘Sustainable Design and Construction SPD’ provides further guidance on housing design, including private amenity space.
An SPD on Planning Obligations was adopted in 2006 and updated in 2008. Upon adoption, this Housing Standards SPD will replace parts of the Planning Obligations SPD. Guidance on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is also being provided separately.

Also Read: Delivery of Affordable Housing Build to Rent Homes in Bristol