Archived decisions

APPENDIX 2

Local Plan Progress Statement

Winchester City Council

The current statutory Local plan is the Winchester District Local Plan. This was adopted in April 1998 and has an end date of March 2001.

The Winchester District Local Plan is in the course of preparation. The deposit version was published in October 2001, attracting in almost 3000 representations. The majority of these were concerning the West of Waterlooville MDA, the Winchester City (North) reserve MDA and other housing issues (particularly housing `omission' sites and urban capacity). The Revised Deposit Local Plan Review is due to be published in March 2003.

The deposit Local Plan Review estimates that 5,453 dwellings will be completed between April 2000 and March 2011, compared to a corresponding Structure Plan requirement of 5,135. This includes the results of a comprehensive Urban Capacity Study, which estimated that 2,117 dwellings would be completed on `good opportunity' sites, with a further 109 dwellings arising from `Living over the Shop' initiatives (total 2,226 dwellings). This was higher than expected at the start of the Plan process, but is considered a realistic (perhaps cautious) estimate, judging by current levels of development activity. The intention is to produce an annual Housing Monitoring Report, which will update the Urban Capacity Study, monitor progress in meeting housing requirements and consider whether any action is needed to correct under/over provision or other issues.

The Local Plan Review also provides for the development of the West of Waterlooville MDA for 2,000 dwellings. The remainder of the housing supply consists of a few allocations carried forward from the current Local Plan and other large site commitments.

The Deposit Local Plan Review identifies `Areas of Search' for the reserve housing provision required by Structure Plan Policy H.4. This involves a possible additional 1,000 dwellings at West of Waterlooville and a possible new 2,000-dwelling MDA at Winchester City (North). The aim is to identify specific sites for this provision at the Revised Deposit Plan stage.

The 1996-2000 house-building rate has averaged 540 dwellings per annum, compared to a Structure Plan Review baseline requirement for the District of 486 dwellings per annum (1996-2011). However, comparison is difficult due to the requirements for major development (Whiteley in the period up to 2001, Waterlooville after 2001). The Local Plan Review expects a small over-provision (6%) of housing by 2011, compared with Structure Plan requirements. Brownfield sites amount to 51% of the total 2000-2011 provision. This low proportion is due to the requirement to develop the West of Waterlooville MDA, and if the reserve provision is added only 33% of development would be brownfield. If the MDA/reserve sites are excluded, the proportion of brownfield development rises to 81%. The `success' in achieving brownfield development is, therefore, highly dependent on the Structure Plan requirement, especially where MDAs are involved.