Investment

West Kent Local Investment Plan - The Council, together with Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge & Malling and Sevenoaks Councils and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have progressed the West Kent Local Investment Plan (WKLIP). The WKLIP is an agreed sub-regional investment programme which will determine where HCA and Local Authority investments and interventions will be made. The process has aimed to ensure that all the partners are joined up and working to the same objectives, and that these reflect the HCA’s objectives. The WKLIP was agreed by all the partners in February 2011 and submitted in March 2011. The WKLIP was submitted in time to form the basis for the latest bidding round of the Affordable Homes Programme.

Due to the down turn in the housing market a significant number of new affordable homes have been acquired from developers in addition to existing contributions, thereby increasing the delivery of affordable housing within the borough. The Council has also taken a proactive partnership approach in providing a targeted funding boost to the housing sector by funding affordable homes directly from its own capital as well as attracting high levels of investment towards affordable housing from the Homes and Communities Agency.

The Council has invested £15.5m in the provision of affordable housing since the transfer of the housing stock back in February 2004, enabling 705 affordable homes to be delivered.

The Affordable Housing Capital Funding Guide (AHCFG) has been prepared and sets out the process and criteria the Council will follow when evaluating schemes for funding. The Council will analyse schemes on a consistent, flexible basis, taking into account specific performance indicators under the following categories.

• Value for Money
• Deliverability
• Strategic Housing Objectives
• Quality
• Tenant Satisfaction

Queries on interpretation of the guidance should be directed to the Policy and Development Team on 01622 602166 or 01622 602546.