““It is unconstrained in planning It is unconstrained in planning terms, in the sense that it is terms, in the sense that it is not green belt, not an area of not green belt, not an area of outstanding natural beauty, outstanding natural beauty, nor a national park”nor a national park”

(a Managing Director - Berkeley Homes, (a Managing Director - Berkeley Homes, WSCT 12 Jan 12)WSCT 12 Jan 12)

Developers targeting Developers targeting countrysidecountryside

• Government’s pro-development stance.Government’s pro-development stance.• Planning Inspectorate’s interpretation and Planning Inspectorate’s interpretation and

application of the NPPFapplication of the NPPF..• Lack of a 5-yr housing land supply – measured Lack of a 5-yr housing land supply – measured

against the SE Planagainst the SE Plan..• New local plan to be in place in 2014 – New local plan to be in place in 2014 –

Deadline set by Government expires:Deadline set by Government expires:• 27 March 2013. 27 March 2013. • Fear that developers will exploit the interim.Fear that developers will exploit the interim.

THE SOUTH EAST PLANTHE SOUTH EAST PLAN

THE SOUTH EAST PLANTHE SOUTH EAST PLAN• Imposed target of 13,000 new houses.Imposed target of 13,000 new houses.

• Target determined during boom years before the Target determined during boom years before the recessionrecession..

• In expectation that continued growth would In expectation that continued growth would generate need for thousands of new houses to generate need for thousands of new houses to accommodate an expanding work forceaccommodate an expanding work force. .

INSTEAD WE HAVE THE RECESSIONINSTEAD WE HAVE THE RECESSION..

Target IMPOSED by South Target IMPOSED by South East Plan UNACHIEVABLEEast Plan UNACHIEVABLE

Communities are being Communities are being PUNISHEDPUNISHED by the by the PLANNING INSPECTORATE - by allowing PLANNING INSPECTORATE - by allowing planning applications on Appeal – because planning applications on Appeal – because the target being in excess of actual the target being in excess of actual demand has NOT BEEN MET – because it demand has NOT BEEN MET – because it is UNACHIEVABLE – for reasons that are is UNACHIEVABLE – for reasons that are BEYOND the CONTROLBEYOND the CONTROL of the Council. of the Council.

Regrettably, Government Ministers seem Regrettably, Government Ministers seem not to understand that neither they nor not to understand that neither they nor councils can compel developers to build councils can compel developers to build more houses than can be sold at a profit.more houses than can be sold at a profit.

Consequences for Horsham Consequences for Horsham DistrictDistrict

• Horsham District Council’s ability to decide planning Horsham District Council’s ability to decide planning applications is being undermined and in effect being applications is being undermined and in effect being is being removed by the Planning Inspectorate.is being removed by the Planning Inspectorate.

• Inappropriate development has and is being imposed Inappropriate development has and is being imposed on communities, as for example at Billingshurst, on communities, as for example at Billingshurst, Henfield and Storrington.Henfield and Storrington.

This is unjustThis is unjust

SOUTH EAST PLAN IS TO BE SOUTH EAST PLAN IS TO BE REVOKED 25 MARCH 2013REVOKED 25 MARCH 2013

(Strategic Environmental Assessment of (Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Revocation of the South East Regional the Revocation of the South East Regional Strategy - Post Adoption Statement. DCLG Strategy - Post Adoption Statement. DCLG Feb 13)Feb 13)

Revocation of the South East Plan Revocation of the South East Plan will enable “councils to make the will enable “councils to make the development choices that work development choices that work for them, choices that are right for them, choices that are right for their communities and for their communities and respond to the needs of the local respond to the needs of the local area rather than arbitrary top-area rather than arbitrary top-down targets. This presents a far down targets. This presents a far better deal for local people””better deal for local people””

(The Rt. Hon. Eric Pickles, Secretary of State (The Rt. Hon. Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Councils and Local Government, 14 Feb 13)for Councils and Local Government, 14 Feb 13)

Revocation of South East Plan:Revocation of South East Plan:

““the top down approach to housing the top down approach to housing numbers will remain” – after the numbers will remain” – after the South East Plan has been revoked.South East Plan has been revoked.

(a Horsham District Cllr – WSCT 7 Mar 13)(a Horsham District Cllr – WSCT 7 Mar 13)

HDC’s view seems to be HDC’s view seems to be that:that:

• The house-building target imposed by the SE The house-building target imposed by the SE Plan on the District will remain valid post Plan on the District will remain valid post revocation and the requirement to meet the revocation and the requirement to meet the target will continue to be enforced by the target will continue to be enforced by the Planning Inspectorate.Planning Inspectorate.

• In setting its own target for the District it must In setting its own target for the District it must take into account the target set by the SE Plan take into account the target set by the SE Plan (- requiring an annual build rate of 670 (- requiring an annual build rate of 670 houses per year).houses per year).

HOWEVERHOWEVER

““I would like to assure you that I would like to assure you that the abolition of the the abolition of the regional strategies also means the abolition of regional strategies also means the abolition of housing targets.housing targets. The The highly flawedhighly flawed regional regional strategies strategies highlighted highlighted that when that when you take planning you take planning away from local people, it not only breeds distrust away from local people, it not only breeds distrust in the planning system, but leads to a severe lack of in the planning system, but leads to a severe lack of protection of important resources like the protection of important resources like the countryside.countryside. The Government’s planning reforms, The Government’s planning reforms, set primarily through the NPPF in 2012, gave set primarily through the NPPF in 2012, gave the the responsibility of setting housing targets to local responsibility of setting housing targets to local authorities as part of the core strategy of their local authorities as part of the core strategy of their local plansplans.”.”

(The Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP, 19 Mar 13)(The Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP, 19 Mar 13)

How we operate.How we operate.Followed by CONCLUSION.Followed by CONCLUSION.

““WUNT BE DRUV!”WUNT BE DRUV!”