CALDERDALE HOUSING CAMPAIGN

Extract from UDP Inspector’s Report – March 2006

5.69.1  In response to objection 10859 by Friends of the Earth the Council suggested a change to policy GH2.  This was in the form of a new GH2A(ii) to read if that target is exceeded the Council will introduce measures of restraint to prevent further oversupply. 

5.69.11  I now turn to the second issue.  The level of housing supply available in Calderdale is currently far in excess of RSS figures and without some mechanism of restraint, I consider it likely that the excess will continue and the supply remain above regional figures.  This will contribute towards the undermining of regional regeneration objections.  I reach this view because of the particular characteristics of the District and the level of brownfield land/buildings which is coming/could come forward as windfall development.

5.69.12  Looking in more detail at the supply situation.  Of the phase 1 sites (excluding HS1-3) 3 of the 4 are under construction and the other has planning permission.   At the end of this phase, that is March 2006, the Council calculate that there will be a supply of about 6000 units (Table 14 Housing Topic Paper) which equates to a 13 year supply.  This is 3 years more than the total plan period.  Further information produced at the inquiry itself (objection 20310)  indicates over 8000 units committed/constructed.  Consequently there appears to be an increasing oversupply.  Given these circumstances it seems to me that policy GH2 should include some kind of regulatory mechanism to enable the Council to refuse planning permission for additional housing developments when there is a situation of oversupply.

Recommendation

5.69.20       I recommend the plan be modified by:-

... ii)  a new GH2A (ii) be introduced to say that – To prevent oversupply of housing, the Council will produce SPG to enable the refusal of planning permission, for housing developments which might otherwise be acceptable under UDP policies, when the forecast net increase in housing stock for the following five years exceeds the prevailing RSS required annual average for that period   

iii)         the insertion of reasoned justification to explain the purpose of the restraint mechanism and that the Council  produce  SPD to detail and define the measures of restraint to be adopted.

Home page

What you can do?

Launch press release

News from planning battles

The fight for the Furtex Mill site

Objectives of the Campaign

Join our discussion group

Statement by Chris McCafferty

How to respond to a housing planning application

Calderdale Council and affordable housing

Can we make new houses more sustainable?

How many new dwellings are the Council required to provide?

STOP PRESS

15th July: Council refuses huge Crow Nest, Hebden Bridge planning application

New Council housing strategy 2005-10 and affordability housing policy report