B5.5.3 Creating balanced communities

Where affordable housing is provided, it must be evenly distributed across the site to prevent clustering and ensure integration. This supports the creation of mixed, balanced communities where all residents can live and interact together.

Exception: For developments where there is only a small amount of affordable housing to be delivered such as less than 5 units, then it would be accepted that there may be some element of clustering to keep these property types close, to mitigate against mixing tenures and to help with estate management. This will be under the discretion of the Affordable Housing team to determine whether this is acceptable.

To help create mixed and balanced communities and prevent prejudice or segregation, affordable housing must be indistinguishable from open market housing in its design and appearance.