Object

Representation ID: 50744

Received: 03/08/2012

Respondent: Taylor Wimpey

Agent: Barton Willmore

The Council have disregarded the employment led growth option (700 dwellings per annum) on the basis of uncertainty to whether sufficient homes could be delivered on strategic sites in the plan period. It is estimated that land for a further 1,800 homes is needed to deliver 700 pa. Suggests that the Council allows the market and development industry to regulate itself in respect of the phasing and delivery of housing. Allowing the larger allocations to start earlier in the plan period will ensure a steady delivery of housing over the life of the plan. In doing so it would allow for the missing 1,800 dwellings which would address the Districts housing need.
Land at North Milverton is capable of accomodating 1,000 dwellings rather than 810 as stated in the Preferred Options and could provide for sustainable growth within the plan period, consistent with the NPPFs requirement to allocate enough land to ensure flexibility

There is no evidence that if the Council does not meet its housing requirement adjoining authorities are prepared to take on that need. It is unclear in what way the duty to cooperate will be taken forward and how the housing need will be met.
The Council argues that the economic projections are optimistic and therefore justification for using lower housing targets. However it is pointed out that the NPPF refers to the need to plan positively. Whilst the shortterm projections of the West Midlands Integrated Policy model have been shown not to be accurate this should not be used to reduce longterm projections. The NPPF requires that plans should be aspirational but realistic and it is considered that an additional 100 dwellings per year meets this requirement.