Object

Representation ID: 59312

Received: 12/08/2013

Respondent: Mr Stuart Oldham

Council no longer subject to the housing growth targets set by RSS. Council is free to set its own housing target in the Local Plan, and comply with the provisions of the NPPF. Council has adopted an interim level of growth of 12,300 houses between 2011 and 2029 (683 per annum), representing an increase of 14% over that of the 2012 Preferred Options. This figure may be revised pending the findings of further joint work with Coventry City Council and the resulting co-operation with that Council. ONS data shows that net migration into the District has very much been the dominant factor in population growth over the past 15 years, and there is no reason to believe that this general trend is likely to change over the next 15 years.

Object to the RDS housing target of 12,300 on the following grounds: The case for the significant increase over the 2012 level is not adequately made in terms of both policy and evidence base; The amount is excessive (and could become even more so when revised), such that 'the adverse impacts..........would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits' (NPPF, paragraph 14). 'Supply creates its own Demand' - an excessive supply of new homes will inevitably lead to an excessive in-migratory population increase. This is explicitly acknowledged by the Council's own consultants - 'It should however be recognised that past migration trends will have been influenced in part by past levels of housing delivery.' (SHMA Final Report, March 2012). Has seen this process at work very clearly in Warwick over the last ten years, the various new housing developments continually drawing in new people from outside the District.