National Housing Expansion Act, 1718

Bill as submitted to the Hopper of the Federal Assembly, 1718

A

BILL

TO

To Increase the Availability of Affordable Housing Across Nouvelle Alexandrie by Incentivizing Property Owners to Sell or Lease Their Land for Housing Development, Streamlining the Planning Process for New Housing Developments, Encouraging the Use of Brownfield Sites for Development, Promoting Co-housing, and Providing Financial Incentives to Developers; Among Other Purposes.

NATIONAL HOUSING EXPANSION ACT, 1718

Ordered, by the Federal Assembly of Nouvelle Alexandrie,
to be Printed, 1718 AN.

_______________________________

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Federal Assembly, in this present session assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS.

Article 1: Short Title.

1. This act shall be known as the National Housing Expansion Act, 1718.
   

Article 2: Definitions.

1. For the purposes of this act:
   1. "Affordable housing" means housing that is affordable to individuals or families with low to moderate incomes, as defined by the Department of Interior.
   2. "Brownfield sites" means areas of land that have been previously developed but are no longer in use.
      

PART II
NATIONAL HOUSING EXPANSION POLICIES AND PROGRAMS.

Article 3: Increasing the Availability of Land for Development.

1. The Department of Interior, in collaboration with regional and local governments, shall establish policies that incentivize property owners to sell or lease their land for housing development.
2. The policies shall include tax incentives, grants, and low-interest loans for property owners who sell or lease their land for housing development. These incentives shall be proportional to the size of the land sold or leased, the number of housing units that can be built on the land, and the affordability of the housing units.
3. The Department of Interior shall coordinate with regional and local governments to prioritize the use of these policies in areas or cities that have a high demand for housing and suffer from high rents. The policies shall take into account the existing land use and zoning regulations in these areas and shall be designed to promote sustainable and equitable development.
4. The regional and local governments shall be responsible for implementing these policies within their respective jurisdictions and shall work with the Department of Interior to ensure that the policies are being used effectively and appropriately. They shall provide regular reports to the Department of Interior on the number of properties that have been sold or leased for housing development, the number of housing units that have been built, and the impact of the policies on the local housing market.
5. The Department of Interior shall establish a database of available land for housing development, which shall be regularly updated and made available to developers, property owners, and regional and local governments. The database shall include information on the size, location, zoning, and ownership of the land, as well as any relevant incentives or restrictions on its use.
6. The Department of Interior shall provide technical assistance and support to regional and local governments in implementing these policies, including training, capacity building, and best practices sharing. They shall also establish a complaint mechanism for any grievances related to the implementation of these policies, which shall be accessible to the public and regularly monitored by the Department of Interior.
7. The Department of Interior shall provide regular reports to the Federal Assembly on the implementation and impact of these policies, including the number of properties that have been sold or leased for housing development, the number of housing units that have been built, the affordability of the housing units, and the effectiveness of the incentives in encouraging property owners to sell or lease their land for housing development. The reports shall also include recommendations for improving the policies and addressing any challenges or issues that arise during implementation.
   

Article 4: Streamlining the Planning Process.

1. The Department of Interior shall coordinate with regional and local governments to streamline the planning process for new housing developments.
2. The Department of Interior shall work with regional and local governments to establish a fast-track planning process for new housing projects that meet the criteria for eligibility.
3. The fast-track planning process shall prioritize housing projects that meet the following criteria:
   1. Projects that will provide affordable housing for low- and middle-income families and individuals.
   2. Projects that are located in areas or cities that have a high demand for housing and suffer from high rents.
   3. Projects that are environmentally sustainable and incorporate green building practices.
   4. Projects that are designed to be accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities.
   5. Projects that incorporate innovative building technologies or design features that improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
4. The Department of Interior shall work with regional and local governments to establish clear criteria and guidelines for eligibility for the fast-track planning process. The criteria and guidelines shall be made available to the public and shall be designed to ensure that projects are assessed based on objective and transparent criteria.
5. The Department of Interior shall also establish a process for appeals for developers whose projects are not eligible for the fast-track process. This process shall be designed to provide a fair and transparent mechanism for developers to challenge decisions and seek redress for any perceived unfair treatment.
6. The Department of Interior shall monitor the implementation of the fast-track planning process and shall report to the Federal Assembly on the effectiveness of the process in accelerating the delivery of new housing developments. Any necessary adjustments or modifications to the process shall be made in consultation with regional and local governments and other stakeholders.
   

Article 5: Encouraging the Use of Brownfield Sites.

1. The Department of Interior shall work with regional and local governments to put in place policies that encourage developers to build on brownfield sites.
2. The Department of Interior shall establish policies that incentivize developers to build on brownfield sites, including tax incentives, grants, and low-interest loans:
   1. Tax Incentives: regional and local governments may offer tax incentives to developers who build on brownfield sites. These incentives may include property tax abatements, sales tax exemptions, and income tax credits.
   2. Grants: The Department of Interior may provide grants to regional and local governments to fund the cleanup and remediation of brownfield sites, making them suitable for housing development. These grants may cover the costs of site assessment, cleanup, and site preparation.
   3. Low-Interest Loans: The Department of Interior may offer low-interest loans to developers who build on brownfield sites. These loans may cover the costs of site preparation, construction, and infrastructure development.
3. The policies shall prioritize brownfield sites that are located in areas or cities that have a high demand for housing and suffer from high rents. Regional and local governments shall have the discretion to determine which brownfield sites are eligible for these incentives, based on criteria such as the site's location, size, contamination level, and potential for development. The Department of Interior shall provide oversight and support to ensure that the incentives are being used appropriately and effectively.
   

Article 6: Promoting Co-housing.

1. The Department of Interior shall work with regional and local governments to promote co-housing as a means of increasing the supply of affordable housing.
2. The policies shall include tax incentives, grants, and low-interest loans for developers who build co-housing developments.
3. The Department of Interior shall establish criteria for co-housing projects to qualify for these incentives, which shall include:
   1. A commitment to building a minimum number of affordable housing units.
   2. The provision of communal spaces and resources.
   3. The promotion of a sense of community.
4. regional and local governments shall be responsible for overseeing and supporting the development of co-housing projects in their jurisdictions.
5. Developers who receive tax incentives, grants, or low-interest loans under this policy shall be required to fulfill their commitments in a timely manner, and failure to do so may result in the revocation of incentives, grants, or loans and/or other penalties as determined by the Department of Interior.
   

Article 7: Providing Incentives to Developers.

1. The Department of Interior shall offer financial incentives to developers to encourage them to build more homes, subject to regional and local governments' discretion.
   1. The financial incentives shall include tax breaks, grants, or low-interest loans to developers who build affordable housing or who commit to building a certain number of homes within a certain timeframe.
      1. Tax breaks shall not exceed a maximum of 20% of the developer's total project cost, subject to the Department of Interior's approval.
      2. Grants shall be awarded based on the scale of the development and the number of affordable housing units it contains. Developers who build affordable housing units shall be entitled to a grant not exceeding 10% of the total project cost, subject to the Department of Interior's approval.
      3. Low-interest loans shall be subject to a maximum amount of €1,000,000 and shall not exceed 50% of the total project cost, subject to the Department of Interior's approval.
   2. The Department of Interior shall establish national standards for the financial incentives, including the affordability of the housing, the location of the development, and the number of homes that will be built.
   3. Regional and local governments shall establish local criteria and parameters for the financial incentives in consultation with the Department of Interior.
2. The Department of Interior shall monitor the developers who receive financial incentives and take necessary action against any developers who misuse the incentives or fail to meet their commitments.
   
   

PART III.
CLOSING PROVISIONS.

Article 10: Closing Provisions.

1. This act shall apply to all of the Federation of Nouvelle Alexandrie.
2. This act shall not become law unless it has been given Royal Assent.
3. This act shall be published and made publicly available.
4. If any provision of this act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the act, and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.