Issue - meetings

Report DRR16/086

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, March 2012) specified that local planning authorities should identify and update annually a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years’ worth of housing against their housing requirements.  The Committee considered a report setting out the five year housing supply position for the Council from 1^st April 2016 to 31^st March 2021.  The report concluded that there was a suitable five year housing supply in the Borough.

Appendix 1 to the report set out the Borough’s five year housing supply position (2016/17 – 2020/2021).  This illustrated that the Borough could accommodate five years supply of housing through a variety of deliverable sites and had delivered sufficient completions over the past few years.  As a result of this a buffer of 5% of units had been added to the Borough’s overall five year target in line with the requirements of the NPPF to ensure choice and competition in the market for land.  This included a small site allowance and relevant large identified sites and draft allocations.

The Chief Planner reported that since publication of the report the Council had received correspondence from Robinson Escott Planning LLP and Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners.  This correspondence was before Members in the packs of additional information that had been provided.

The Chairman noted that the established housing targets required in excess of 640 houses to be built across the Borough every year for the next five years and reported that he was more than happy with the sites and details that the Council’s officers had put together in the Plan before the Committee.

In response to a question, the Chief Planner reported that an allowance was made in the figures provided for housing units above shops that were being brought back into residential use.

A Member stressed the importance of adopting the plan in order to provide confidence in the five year housing supply and reduce unwanted development across the Borough.

RESOLVED that the five year housing supply position from 1^st April 2016 to 31^st March 2021 as set out in appendix 1 of the report be agreed.