Object

Representation ID: 5106

Received: 22/12/2022

Respondent: Redrow Homes

Agent: Harris Lamb Property Consultancy

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

As detailed in our representations in respect of the Plans housing requirement, it is our view that the housing requirement is insufficient. Additional land needs to be
removed from the Green Belt to accommodate the housing target. Land at Castlecroft should be removed from the Green Belt and allocated for development.#
In accordance with para 140 of the NPPF - local authorities are required to remove land from the Green Belt and safeguard it for development in order to ensure that the Green Belt is not continually reviewed through each Local Plan review. The emerging Plan fails this requirement.
The amount of land removed from the Green Belt and allocated for development is insufficient. Regardless, there are no safeguarded development opportunities within the Plan. No rationale has been provided for this approach, there is direct conflict with the provisions of the Framework.
Redrow’s land interest at Castlecroft should be removed from the Green Belt and allocated for development. However, if this position is not supported the site should be safeguarded as a longer term development opportunity.
If any of the allocations do not deliver as expected and a five year housing land supply shortfall occurs, or the Council fails the Housing Delivery Test, it may be necessary for the Council to grant planning permission for unallocated sites in order to ensure a sufficient supply of housing is delivered. This will, however, prove difficult if the development opportunities available to the Council are within the Green Belt.
Removing land from the Green Belt and safeguarding it for future development will help avoid this situation arising.
The Plan is inflexible and could result in significant delays in the delivery of much needed market and affordable housing.