Preferred Options November 2021

Support

Representation ID: 1861

Received: 13/12/2021

Respondent: St Philips

Agent: Lichfields

St Philips has reviewed the emerging policy directions set out in Chapter 6 and in general support, the Council’s proposed approach to the policies set out in Chapter 6. However, St Philips have the following comments on the below specific policies.

Policy HC1 – Housing Mix
St Philips has some concerns regarding the Council’s proposed direction of travel and in particular the implied inflexibility in the policy. The policy should include wording that defers to alternative mixes should more up-to-date information become available. It would be inflexible and unsuitable to prescriptively apply a District-wide housing mix to all parts of the District when different areas will have differing requirements and demographic
profiles.
Households occupy market housing more in line with their wealth and age than the number of people which they contain. Although some adjustments have been made, this data is not necessarily reflective of South Staffordshire’s market. Adjustments need to take into account the impact of Covid and people wanting more space to live and work from home.

In summary, whilst St Philips would support the inclusion of a housing mix policy within the Local Plan Review, the Council should not be overly prescriptive in the application of a principally demographically-derived District-wide housing mix.

Support

Representation ID: 1862

Received: 13/12/2021

Respondent: St Philips

Agent: Lichfields

Policy HC7 - Self & Custom Build Housing

In general, St Philips supports the proposed direction of travel for draft Policy HC7 as it would align with the requirement set out in the NPPF. St Philips consider that the Council’s policy should explicitly set out the evidence against which applicants should establish whether there is an ‘identified need’. In particular, St Philips notes that the Council does not publish annually any data on the
level of demand for SCHB, or how it has met its statutory duty to grant suitable permissions for the SCHB plots within the monitoring year.

Support

Representation ID: 1863

Received: 13/12/2021

Respondent: St Philips

Agent: Lichfields

Policy HC11 - Space about dwellings and internal space standards
St Philips supports the need to ensure improved housing standards are delivered by requiring developments to meet Nationally Described Space Standards [NDSS]. As such, St Philips support the principle of the direction of travel for draft Policy HC11.
St Philips would advise the Council that, should the Council wish to proceed with a policy approach that requires the delivery of dwellings to the NDSS.

Policy HC12 - Parking Standards
Largely supportive of the policy. However, St Philips disagrees with the Council’s proposed direction of travel for residential dwellings proposed as a part of draft Policy
HC12. In particular, St Philips considers that the Council should acknowledge the diversity of different charging speeds depending on the type of vehicle and type of charge point. St Philips considers that a planning policy that requires the provision of underground cabling and/or ducting for an EVCP is in place would allow for the proportional expansion of the charging network