Housing (planning policy)

Arun 5 Year Housing Land Supply

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires Local Planning Authorities to identify and update annually, a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide a minimum of five years' worth of housing against their housing requirement.  It should identify a sufficient supply and mix of sites, taking into account their availability, suitability and likely economic viability. The assessment must also include a trajectory illustrating the expected rate of housing delivery over the plan period.  This information is contained in the Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) which is published annually.

Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA)

The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and Employment and Economic Land Assessment (EELA) have been combined and digitised to create a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA). Arun District Council has an open 'call for sites' policy. To find out more, please see our HELAA page.

Housing Delivery Test

The NPPF brought into force the requirement for a Housing Delivery Test (HDT).  The council has accordingly agreed and published a HDT Action Plan (July 2021).  The Annex to the Action Plan was published in 2024 following further work on Residential Site Delivery Agreements:

Housing Delivery Test - Action Plan 2021 [docx] 567KB

Residential Site Delivery Agreements 2023 [pdf] 726KB

Housing Delivery Test Action Plan - Annex 2024 [pdf] 103KB

Information relating to specific sites can either be found within the latest Authority Monitoring Report or HELAA.

Strategic developments

Details of the strategic sites that have been identified in the Local Plan for housing and economic development can be found on our strategic development sites page. 

Interim Housing Statement 2021

In March 2021, the council published the Interim Housing Statement [pdf] 623KB which aimed to speed up decision making and the delivery of suitably sized and located housing developments in Arun. 

Arun Housing Absorption Study 2022

To help understand the local housing market and its ability to accommodate housing sales and delivery rates a Housing Absorption Study was published in 2022. It is expected that this study will be updated to support the new Local Plan.

Housing Market Absorption Study December 2022 [pdf] 2MB

Arun Housing Need Review 2023

To provide an initial review of the existing and future need for housing in Arun district, the council commissioned Iceni Projects Limited to prepare a Housing Need Review.

Arun Housing Need Review (Final Report) May 2023 [docx] 304KB

Arun Interim Affordable Housing Policy to Accommodate First Homes Policy

In response to changes in national policy and local delivery the council has published 'Interim Affordable Housing Guidance' (linked below). The document updates the previous 'Interim Affordable Housing Policy to Accommodate First Homes Policy 2022 (with 2023 local connections amendment)'. This interim guidance is a transitional step, until an updated or new Local Plan policy is prepared.
The updated guidance provides some additional clarification to ensure that the current affordable housing policy position best responds to local context and circumstances. It is intended that this will support the effective implementation of existing Local Plan policies and provide clarification on the approach to:

  • 'First Homes'
  • tenure and housing mix to reflect prevailing demands / conditions
  • viability
  • how contributions towards affordable housing are calculated

Please see Interim Affordable Housing Guidance [docx] 65KB.

Residents survey

Arun District Council commissioned market research companies to carry out surveys with residents of some recently developed housing developments in the district.  The feedback received will inform the wider evidence base for the Local Plan and relevant service delivery in terms of travel choices, employment provision, housing tenure, and the need for local services and amenities to support new housing development i.e. what works well and what could be improved. The reports below set out the key findings.

2023 New Housing Development Surveys Littlehampton [pdf] 2MB

2025 - The Hedgerows (Eastergate) and Windmill Views (Barnham) [pdf] 1MB