REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT-

NORTH HAMPSHIRE AND SPATIAL STRATEGY

PART II

GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION PAPER : "PLANNING FOR HOUSING PROVISION"

1. On behalf of the County Council, the Executive Member has commented in detail on the Government Consultation Paper "Planning for Housing Provision". The Consultation Paper sets out a proposed new approach, the purpose of which is to allow the planning system to be more responsive to the market, while continuing to balance other social and environmental objectives and recognising that plans need to be reviewed in response to significant changes in the housing market. It also seeks to allow significant and unexpected changes in circumstances to be understood and addressed, and their consequences managed.

2. Whilst the importance of local planning authorities providing enough land in plans to deliver sufficient housing for the population of their respective areas is recognised , the Executive Member has highlighted a number of concerns including the following:-

· the mismatch between SEERA's sub-regional boundaries and housing market areas.


· the need to take into account other factors as well as market demand, as housing provision needs to be integrated with planning for regeneration, employment, transport and other infrastructure.


· the potential problems arising from the fact that once sites are allocated as part of a five year supply to be rolled forward as land is developed, developers will be able to bring forward the land at any time regardless of whether it is brownfield or greenfield land reducing the likely proportion of development on brownfield land.


· the best way to help those in genuine housing need is to put more investment into affordable houses. In order to have any significant impact on the price of housing, a huge number of additional houses would have to be built which would have a significant adverse environmental impact.


· the proposed approach will increase the burden on local planning authorities and regional planning bodies as there will be additional work and costs associated with providing evidence on a housing market area basis as proposed (rather than a district basis) and in maintaining a five year rolling land supply.


The full text of the County Council's response is available on Hantsweb and on request from the Director of Environment.

3. This decision supports Aims 2 and 3 of the Corporate Strategy (Stewardship of the Environment and Achieving Economic Prosperity) by influencing proposed new planning policy for housing provision.

JONATHAN K. GLEN

Executive Member for Environment -
North Hampshire & Spatial Strategy

8eR55905