News
Wales planning news, October 2018
01 Oct 2018
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Headline news |
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Monmouthshire Council agrees to give ‘appropriate weight’ to its lack of five-year housing land supply
On 20 September, Monmouthshire Council discussed how to approach their lack of a five-year housing land supply in light of the recent Welsh Government decision to suspend - for an undetermined time period - paragraph 6.2 of TAN1, Joint Housing Land Availability Studies.
Paragraph 6.2. of TAN1 reads as follows:
‘The housing land supply figure should also be treated as a material consideration in determining planning applications for housing. Where the current study shows a land supply below the 5-year requirement or where the local planning authority has been unable to undertake a study, the need to increase supply should be given considerable weight when dealing with planning applications provided that the development would otherwise comply with development plan and national planning policies.’
A report prepared to inform the County Council meeting recommended continuing to give ‘considerable weight’ to the lack of a five-year housing land supply when considering planning applications for residential development on unallocated sites. This would be providing that a proposed development would otherwise be acceptable in planning terms and meet a series of ‘ground rules’.
The officer recommendation came as Monmouthshire Council is facing a number of ‘challenging issues’ around housing affordability and economic growth, and in light of the fact that the existing Local Development Plan (LDP) will expire by December 2021 (and current projections show that the Council will be almost 1,000 homes behind target). Accordingly, the two available options were either to give ‘no weight’ to the lack of five-year housing land supply, retaining a strict Plan-led approach, or to give ‘some weight’ to the lack of a five-year housing land supply, taking a more ‘outcome-focus’ approach.
At the County Council meeting on 20 September, members agreed to give ‘appropriate weight’ (not ‘considerable weight’, as recommended) to the lack of a five-year housing land supply when considering planning applications for residential development on unallocated sites. Development proposals have to be acceptable in planning terms, and eleven ‘ground rules’ must be adhered to, including in relation to affordable housing provision, and spatial location.
Monmouthshire County Council, Officer Report on ‘addressing our lack of a five-year housing land supply: Monmouthshire’s approach to unallocated housing sites’Monmouthshire County Council, County Council meeting: Agenda, 20 September 2018
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Quote of the month |
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If we are serious about addressing the challenges of affordability and economic growth, ‘do nothing’ is not a sensible or viable option. We will not close the 961 dwelling gap by the end of 2021, however giving considerable weight to our housing land supply shortfall […] gives us the best chance of achieving it. It would also mean that we start our new LDP period with development activity ongoing, compared to the significant lead-in time experienced with the current LDP before sites progressed.
Monmouthshire County Council Officer reasons for a recommendation to continue giving ‘considerable weight’ to the Council’s lack of a five-year housing land supply |
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‘Western Powerhouse’ vision outlined by Welsh Secretary
The Secretary for Wales, Alun Cairns, outlined the UK Government’s vision for a ‘Western Powerhouse’, when delivering a speech at a Policy Forum Wales seminar in Newport on 10 September.
The Welsh Secretary highlighted how, when the tolls on the Severn Crossings are completely abolished (at the end of 2018), this will be an opportunity for businesses from both sides of the Severn Estuary to pool their expertise to benefit wider South Wales and South West England.
Opening the Policy Forum, Alun Cairns said:
‘For far too long, the physical barrier of the Severn tolls have prevented businesses and people in Wales and the South West from working together in a way that they could have been. Whilst differences to our own cross-border region exist, it is clear that we can learn lessons and benefit from each others’ experience.’
Future Generations Commissioner for Wales urges Welsh Government to drop M4 project
The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Sophie Howe, has called on the Welsh Government to drop the £1.4bn investment currently earmarked for the M4 Black Route and to invest in public transport instead.
The call comes as a report by the Future Generations Commissioner, in partnership with other organisations, highlights how the Black Route would exacerbate many of the societal and environmental challenges facing Wales, while also performing weakly on the criteria set out in the Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015.
The report, ‘Transport Fit for Future Generations’, highlights how a package of integrated transport solutions in alternative to the use of car could make a better contribution to Wales’ well-being goals. Specifically, the report sets out three case study ideas (to help solve congestion around Newport), to complement the South Wales Metro - at a cost of approximately £460m, The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales has pointed to the findings clearly justifying ‘a reasonable cause for a review and re-appraisal of Welsh Government’s M4 Black Route proposal’.
Sophie Howe said:
‘Wales has a choice to make. It must choose whether to spend £1.4 billion on building a 14-mile section of M4 motorway, or to invest in alternative sustainable transport infrastructure that’s fit for future generations, that Wales and the world can be proud of.’
Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales calls on Welsh Government to be brave in its investment on transport as new report shows lack of ambition in M4 Black route proposalFuture Generations Commissioner for Wales, Transport Fit for Future Generations
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The Lichfields perspective |
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At least one council has taken a positive and convincingly argued decision to give appropriate weight to its lack of its five-year land supply in response to Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths’ July 2018 decision to disapply paragraph 6.2 of TAN 1. Using a set of ‘ground rules’, Monmouthshire Council recognises its responsibilities to plan for sustainable development and to work towards the goals of the Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015). Lichfields hopes to see other Welsh planning authorities following suit.
Helen Ashby-Ridgway, Associate Director |
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Disclaimer: This publication has been written in general terms and cannot be relied on to cover specific situations. We recommend that you obtain professional advice before acting or refraining from acting on any of the contents of this publication. Lichfields accepts no duty of care or liability for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication. Lichfields is the trading name of Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Limited. Registered in England, no.2778116