Publication Draft

Object

Representation ID: 65711

Received: 27/06/2014

Respondent: West Midlands HARP Planning Consortium

Agent: Tetlow King Planning Ltd.

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Concern is expressed over the evidence provided by the Council to meet its objectively assessed housing need. The figure of 268 new affordable houses per year between 2013 and 2031 has been calculated based on an assumed period of 18 years over which the backlog of affordable housing should be met. However the 2012 SHMA identified a need for 698 affordable dwellings per annum in the
District; a figure which is significantly higher than that of the joint SHMA, but which is only one year older. Further concern is that the 2013 Joint SHMA incorporates an assumption of zero migration; this is in contrast to the 2012 SHMA for Warwick which included trend based migration of 460 persons per annum.The zero migration scenario employed in the 2013 SHMA is likely to have underestimated the need for affordable housing.

Support

Representation ID: 65995

Received: 27/06/2014

Respondent: West Midlands HARP Planning Consortium

Agent: Tetlow King Planning Ltd.

We are glad that the Council has recognised the issues surrounding housing need arising from outside of the District; this is supported by the NPPG which requires effective strategic planning or cross border growth "from the outset" of Plan preparation.

It is of course desirable for an authority to have assessed the entire housing need that must be
accommodated in its borders before preparing its Plan. The
Council seems to be taking significant measures to positively front up to this potential need. We would like to see adopted, the inclusion of a proactive timetable defining key events that will trigger a review with regards to cross border need.

Support

Representation ID: 65996

Received: 27/06/2014

Respondent: West Midlands HARP Planning Consortium

Agent: Tetlow King Planning Ltd.

We are supportive of the 40% affordable housing target. However the policy wording currently states that residential development "will not be permitted unless provision is made for a minimum of 40% affordable housing" We are of the opinion that such a blanket policy does not allow the flexibility a developer may require to bring forward sites that may not be viable at such a high rate of delivery. In the interests of delivering more affordable housing it would be of benefit to the Council to make clear that lower contributions may be acceptable providing the developer can offer clear evidence to justify
a lower target.

Support

Representation ID: 65997

Received: 27/06/2014

Respondent: West Midlands HARP Planning Consortium

Agent: Tetlow King Planning Ltd.

We support the Council in its allowing of Rural Exception Schemes. As our comments above show we have reservations that 40% affordable housing will be achieved on all sites. This will reduce the number of affordable houses developed and so positive affordable housing schemes such as this will promote the production of affordable housing.