New housing reforms may strain services.
The findings of a recent survey conducted by the County Councils Network have revealed a significant dissent among county and unitary councils towards nationally-set housing targets. The councils are raising concerns about a potential developer ‘free for all’ if these mandated targets are put into practice.
The government’s plan to introduce compulsory housing targets as part of an updated National Planning Policy Framework has sparked widespread unease among local authorities. According to the survey, a staggering nine out of ten councils feel that the proposed targets for their respective areas are unreasonably high. Analysis by the County Councils Network indicates a staggering 56% surge in the annual construction of new homes in rural and county regions, necessitating the building of a whopping 64,000 properties. This figure is markedly higher than the requirements for councils in urban centres, being three times the percentage of major cities.
Key findings derived from the responses to the revised National Planning Policy Framework include:
- Councils in county areas facing the daunting task of delivering an extra 1,245 homes weekly (equivalent to 64,769 annually)
- A substantial surge expected in housing development within county and rural zones in comparison to larger urban centres
- 70% of county and rural unitary councils expressing support for nationally set targets
- 85% of councils decrying excessive pressure on infrastructure, worsened conditions on local roads, services, and amenities
- 90% of county and unitary councils expressing concerns about elevated risks of speculative development in their areas
In response to these alarming statistics, county and unitary councils are urging the government to rethink its proposal to implement the ‘five-year land supply’. There are fears that developers could shirk their responsibilities to build on agreed sites outlined in a council’s Local Plan, potentially leading to easier approvals for construction on sites outside the plan. This scenario could undermine local governance, diminish the efficacy of Local Plans, and unfairly penalise local authorities for circumstances beyond their control.
Consequently, there is a growing demand for the government to eliminate the obligation to maintain a five-year land supply if a council possesses an updated Local Plan.
Cllr Richard Clewer, the Housing and Planning Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, emphasised the following:
“The County Councils Network’s survey unequivocally illustrates that councils in rural and county areas do not oppose housing developments, with the majority endorsing the concept of nationally-set targets. However, the proposed targets are deemed excessive, necessitating the construction of an additional 65,000 homes annually, without any assurances regarding the vital road networks, educational facilities, and healthcare services that will be needed.
“Our existing infrastructure is already strained, let alone contemplating the implications of erecting a quarter of a million additional homes during this Parliament. It’s crucial to acknowledge that a significant portion of this development in county areas will be in locales with minimal or no public transport, in stark contrast to the advantages of building within or near cities where infrastructure is well-established.
“To compound matters, the government’s plan to reintroduce a five-year land supply policy severely undermines locally agreed housing decisions set out in our Local Plans, essentially empowering developers. If coupled with these ambitious new housing targets, we risk witnessing a proliferation of developer-driven projects in many county and rural regions, eroding democratic processes and leading to unsuitable developments, regardless of local sentiments.”
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