Cabinet set to oppose proposed housing targets
News release issued:
Planned changes to National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which would see the number of homes required to be built in the district increase by 124% a year, look set to be opposed by Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet.
The Cabinet will be discussing its response to the Government’s consultation on the NPPF at its meeting tomorrow (Tuesday 10 September).
The NPPF is a key document for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It oversees planning laws that guide development across England. The planned changes include the reintroduction of housing targets and a new method for calculating them.
For the Wyre Forest district, the current annual housing need figure (agreed in the Local Plan 2022) is for 276 houses. Under the proposed new standard method, as calculated by Government, this figure rises to 617 houses per year, an increase of 341 properties.
The changes would also look to introduce more strategic planning across local authority boundaries. The council welcomes strategic plans but wants to have a direct say in their production. There is concern that the proposed changes would have an adverse impact on Wyre Forest. This is because neighbouring authorities in the Black Country and wider West Midlands are not meeting their housing needs. It could mean the number of homes being built in the Wyre Forest increase further as we are required to meet other councils’ housing numbers.
If the changes to the NPPF are implemented the Council will have to review its Local Plan, which was adopted in April 2022 and is due to run until 2036.
Councillor Dan Morehead, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Regeneration, Planning and the Green Agenda said:
“We welcome the opportunity to respond to this comprehensive consultation on the NPPF.
While we agree with some of the proposed changes, we are planning to raise serious concerns about some of the suggested changes to the NPPF in our consultation feedback. In particular we are opposing the way housing needs would be calculated. This would have significant implications for the district. We would not be able to accommodate such a jump in housing numbers on available brownfield land and make sure it is deliverable and viable.
“The Government has made it clear that local authorities are expected to have an up-to-date Local Plan, something not all councils do. Our current Local Plan was adopted in 2022, which means we are well placed for now.”
The Cabinet meeting starts at 6pm and will be webcast live. A recording of the meeting will also be made available on the Council’s website.