Horsham district facing shockingly high new housing requirement

Councils across the county are currently trawling through the details of the government’s ‘planning for the future’ White Paper as well as preparing their responses for a second consultation on changes to planning policy and regulations.

Those changes include altering the way housing figures are calculated – replacing the current local housing need with local housing requirements, essentially adding 300,000 homes per year to the nationwide figures.

More homes proposed across Sussex

Figures from planning and development consultancy Lichfields show how the changes would affect West Sussex councils.

The biggest increase would fall on Horsham District Council with its housing requirement shooting up from 920 to 1,715.

Reforms criticised by CPRE

The White Paper has been described as ‘vague, damaging and ineffectual’ by The Campaign to Protect Rural England – Sussex.

The charity warned the proposals ‘could hand thousands of acres of rural Sussex over to developers who will be able to build without going through the planning process’.

Roger Smith, from CPRE Sussex, said: “Build rates are controlled by developers. They are in it to make money and will only build houses if they can make a profit which is acceptable to them. So, unless the government is going to subsidise builders to build affordable homes and infrastructure the same problems will prevail.”

James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, pointed out that more than a million homes given permission in the last decade had yet to be built.

Meanwhile writing this week, the Rt Revd Dr Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester, argued that the drive to build new houses is something to be welcomed, but not at any price.

He said: “We need good new neighbourhoods, not just lots of new houses.”

He felt these neighbourhoods not only had to contribute to a reduction in our carbon footprint, but also develop their own character of diversity and have architecture that makes a statement about dignity and human achievement.

Land divided into three categories

The White Paper divides land into three categories – growth, renewal and protected.

In growth areas, outline permission would be automatically given for developments specified in a council’s local plan; renewal areas would be seen as suitable for some development; and protected areas would see development restricted.

Councils would also be able to set aside land in ‘growth’ areas for self-built and custom-built homes.

The proposed changes brought a mixed reaction from West Sussex councillors.

Horsham council leaders ‘shocked’ by housebuilding numbers

Over at Horsham District Council, a spokesman said the proposals in the White Paper were ‘fundamentally different’ from those in its Local Plan review, which went out to consultation earlier this year.

That review covered a possible range of 1,000 to 1,400 homes per year – an already large leap from the current 800.

The government’s calculation of 1,715 homes per year was described as ‘way beyond what we might find acceptable’ by Claire Vickers, cabinet member for planning and development.

She said: “I have long said that while we know there is always demand for more homes in our district, I believe that it needs to be a number that can provide the necessary infrastructure improvements and that we can reasonably accommodate.

“While I realise that these are only consultation documents, I am shocked at the house-build numbers that are suggested.

“They are way beyond what we might find acceptable and I cannot see how our district could accommodate such an immense housing requirement nor the building industry physically be able provide 1,715 homes every year throughout the life of the Local Plan.”

Ms Vickers said leader Ray Dawe had contacted local MPs for their support and the council would be taking legal advice before responding to the consultation.

John Milne, Lib Dem shadow cabinet member for planning at Horsham, felt the new housing requirement would lead to ‘urbanisation on a massive scale’.

He also warned that built-up areas in renewal zones would be opened up to random infill development and could create a ‘wild west’ for developers, while growth areas could be blighted for decades.

‘Build up not out’

The proposed changes will provoke plenty of debate in the corridors of Westminster over the next few months.

Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, said: “There are some welcome initiatives such as the focus on building upon brownfield land, a locally set design code for new dwellings, better energy efficient standards and requirement to enhance bio-diversity.

“Post Covid, I want to see us building ‘up not out’ – attractive homes in existing towns and cities and converting the vast amount of now unused offices to dwellings in those areas where the infrastructure already exists - not developments on the unspoilt green fields of West Sussex such as those proposed at Mayfields, Adversane and West Grinstead that would only be accessible by motor car.”

Horsham MP Jeremy Quin said: “People need homes and Government has a vital role in ensuring these are built and available to support both home ownership and the rental sector. How we do this as a nation in a proportionate and appropriate way is hugely important.

“I am going through the proposals in detail. I have already engaged with HDC and will be addressing the substance of the proposed reforms with colleagues. I would encourage everyone with a view on this important issue to engage in the consultation.”

To comment visit the planning for the future consultation website and {http//www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-current-planning-system.

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