Agenda item

LB BROMLEY FIVE YEAR HOUSING LAND SUPPLY PAPER FEBRUARY 2019

Minutes:

Report DRR/19/021

 

In line with Government guidance, an updated five year housing land supply paper was usually reviewed by Members on an annual basis.  The last paper was agreed by the Development Control Committee on 16th November 2017.

 

In November 2018, following an initial update, Members agreed that the November 2017 position should be extended in the short term until the next Paper was considered.  This would enable relatively recent publications of the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) to be assessed as they included updated guidance on the compilation of five year housing land supply papers.

 

A draft Five Year Housing Land Supply Paper was due to be considered by Members on 6th February 2019 however, this meeting was cancelled due to concerns regarding the deliverability of some of the housing supply components in the Draft Five Year Housing Supply Paper. Those concerns had now been given due consideration.  The Paper was updated to incorporate further details relating to the monitoring of housing completions.

 

This report set out the five year housing land supply position for the Council from 1st December 2018 – 30th November 2023. It concluded that there was a deliverable five year housing land supply in the Borough.

 

The Legal Representative referred to correspondence received from the agent of an interested developer.  In relation to the content of this correspondence, the Council had taken the opportunity to consult with a barrister who was a specialist in planning matters.  The barrister’s advice was reported to Members.

 

The Chief Planner advised that for ease of reference, a list of appendices and their page numbers had been circulated to Members.

 

The following paragraph numbers were inserted to replace ‘xxx’ on page 111 of Appendix 3:-

 

Paragraph 1, first sentence – ‘Paragraph 1.30 of the 5YHLS sets out that the Borough was attributed an annual average housing supply monitoring target of a minimum 641 units per annum in the 2016 London Plan.’

 

Paragraph 2, first and second sentences – ‘As specified in paragraph 2.19 of the 5YHLS 2019, an assessment has been made of the contribution that small sites (<0.25ha) have made to housing delivery from 2010/11 – 2017/18.  This data represents the most up-to-date data when the 5YHLS was compiled in line with the observations made by the Inspector who reported on the ‘Dylon’ decision (APP/G5180/W/16/314428) as made reference to in paragraph 2.7 of the Council’s 5YHLS.’

 

Paragraph 3 – ‘Paragraph 2.20 of the 5YHLS makes reference to the reasoning for including unit completions from the use of permitted development rights.’

 

Paragraph 4, final sentence – ‘Paragraph 2.22 of the 5YHLS sets out the Council’s reasoning behind this uplift.’

 

Paragraph 10, first sentence – ‘Paragraphs 2.59 to 2.62 of the 2019 5YHLS make reference to the fact that only sites that have commenced [accommodating 9+ units] are included in the supply.’

 

The final sentence of paragraph 2.20 (page 85 of the report), was amended to read:- ‘See also paragraphs 2.59 to 2.62 below.’

 

Paragraph 2.62 (page 97 of the report), was amended to read:- ‘The allowance of 200 units is considered deliverable in light of the fact that completions from this component since 2014 reached over 525 units and there are approximately 250 units currently in the pipeline (30 units from the 250 have started).’

 

The Chief Planner advised that the 5YHLS was part of National, London and Local Policies.  The Council had recently adopted the Bromley Local Plan which identified its 5YHLS through the Local Plan process.  Page 100 of the report identified Bromley’s capacity as 3752 units which exceeded the target of 3365.

 

Councillor Fawthrop expressed his gratitude to officers for their efforts in undertaking this project.  He also thanked the Legal Representative for consulting with the Barrister who had given clear and concise advice.  Councillor Fawthrop moved that the report be agreed.  The Chairman seconded the motion.

 

Councillor Allen considered Bromley had only met its housing targets partly due to the Council’s loss of planning appeals – something which needed to be addressed.  She encouraged the Council to set up more meaningful regeneration development planning and engage more with developers, the community and others to produce good quality proposals which Members could support.  For the large sites identified, Bromley was potentially faced with a long process of unpleasant planning applications, refusals and appeals which could result in second-rate developments. The lack of affordable dwellings was shameful and although covered in the Local Plan, there needed to be full recognition and acceptance of the provision in all deliberations.  Affordable housing was required for professionals and key workers who in turn, would contribute to Bromley’s economic growth. 

 

In regard to the small site numbers, Councillor Allen was unclear how a list of unbuilt permissions over the last four years gave an indication of future provision.  Small sites were clearly a major contribution to the overall delivery and lessons could be learned from other boroughs on how to make this happen.  As a result of their collaboration, fewer appeals were made and more sites came forward which were actually developed. 

 

The Chief Planner advised that the Housing Land Supply and Housing Trajectory had been considered through the Local Plan process and examined by the Planning Inspector who concluded that, with modifications, it was satisfactory.

 

RESOLVED that the five year housing land supply position 01/12/18-30/11/23 be agreed.

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