Ministers drop plan to relax affordable housing rules after negative response

Government concedes ‘significant opposition’ requires new approach on quotas for medium-sized development sites Ministers have dropped plans to relax affordable housing rules for developers in England after a backlash from housing experts who warned it could drastically cut the number of cheaper homes available in rural areas. The government said on Monday it would not go ahead with proposals to end affordable housing quotas for private builders on sites containing between 10 and 49 houses after a consultation triggered an overwhelmingly negative response. The change, which was included in the government’s 150-page planning reform document (pdf) on Monday, is one of the most significant reversals ministers have made to housing policy since Andy Burnham became prime minister. Kate Henderson, the chief executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF), said: “It’s extremely positive to see that the government has listened to the social housing sector and decided against removing onsite affordable housing requirements on medium-sized development sites. “This decision will safeguard one of the most important routes for delivering social homes in rural areas, ensuring we can build genu