COMMENT

A total of 10,800 new homes are proposed to be applied to three separate year periods that make up the 18 years of the plan (2011-2029); as the plan will not be implemented until its adoption in spring 2014 this effectively means that the overall housing provision is to be applied to three separate 5 year periods that make up the remaining 15 years of the plan following adoption.

Unfortunately no explanation is provided in the plan as to why the Council considers it appropriate to phase housing delivery and what the anticipated benefits would be in following such an approach. Having regard to the SHLAA (May 2012) and potential housing trajectory (Chart 7.1) it would appear that the sub-division of the plan period is an estimate, based on current data, of how long it may be expected for development momentum to pick-up and on the earliest practical delivery of the larger site allocations. We also recognise that phasing can have an important role to play in helping ensure that new development keeps pace with infrastructure delivery. Nonetheless, even if the above is the reasons for introducing phasing in the plan, we would like reassurance from the Council that it is not intended act as a cap and/or a break on housing delivery where infrastructure necessary to support the planned development is either already available or planned to be delivered in parallel with proposed new housing.