Issue - meetings

Following a recommendation from the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee, Members are asked to note the five year housing supply position.

At the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee on 24 January 2019 the annual housing requirement of 579 was discussed in relation to determining planning applications with the knowledge that there is not a demonstrable 5 year housing land supply. It was therefore agreed that the Head of Planning would advise the Planning Committee on the position of the housing land supply. 

Accordingly the Committee was informed that there was 1 year of housing land supply.  However, it was acknowledged that in view of the potential for sites to come forward (as identified in the Urban Housing Capacity Study), there was potential to meet up to 50% of the required number of homes from developing in existing urban areas. 

It was noted that if the authority did not have a demonstrable 5 year housing land supply and applications were refused there was a risk of incurring a penalty of up to 20% increase on top of the housing target (579 homes annually).  However it was further noted that officers were optimistic of achieving a 5 year land supply and in addition any penalty that was levied would decrease as the land supply increased.

To assess the basis for the under delivery and identify actions to increase the land supply a Housing Delivery Action plan would be prepared in line with national planning guidance.

It was highlighted that during the transition period when the Housing Delivery Action Plan was being developed an important way to minimise the risk of incurring any penalties was to be mindful of the possible levy when determining planning applications.  Nevertheless it was also emphasized that when considering applications attention should always be on quality outcomes and sustainable development, and these aspects would be the focus of the pre-app stage.

To that end it was agreed that the Planning Committee would receive regular updates on the status of the 5 year land supply.