Fall in housing growth
9 MAY 2007 An
independent Panel appointed by the Government to look at housing growth rate has listened to Harrogate Borough Council and not developers when it comes to the number of new houses which can be built over the next 15 years.
Subject to the final approval of the Panel's recommendations by the Government later this year, the proposed figure will fall below 400, well short of the 800 that some developers wanted.
This news has been welcomed by Harrogate Borough Council's planners and will support the council's aim to minimise the need to develop greenfield land and to preserve the beauty of open spaces and green belt around the urban areas.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, Cabinet Member for Planning, said:
"Under Government rules, the Yorkshire and Humber Plan dictates the level of future housing growth in each of the region's 21 local authority areas.
The draft plan proposed that this district should provide an average of slightly less than 400 houses per year but a number of organisations including house builders and the Government Office for the
Region
called
for a much higher rate of growth".
Harrogate Borough Council stated its case for lower housing growth at a public examination, held in September and October last year at which all parties were able to make their case.
"Quite frankly, our district couldn't cope with any higher figure, add
ed
Councillor Mackenzie.
" Our infrastructure
roads and transport, education, healthcare -
is already at capacity, so we are delighted that the Panel has listened to sense.
The average figure we were to provide for the past four years stood at 450 new houses each year, so this new recommended growth rate will reduce the pressure to build even further.
I can report that, last year, this figure was down to around 280 compared to the highest rate of house building in 2001 of 930. I believe that this shows that our planning policies are working.
The Panel also took the reasonable view that it would be better to encourage more investment in jobs in this district than more housing, so as to help reduce the high level of commuting into Leeds."
NEDS
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Councillor Don Mackenzie is available for comment on 01423 872211.
Further technical information is available from Dave Allenby, Chief Planner on 01423 556576.
Note for editors ...
Note for editors:
The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) or 'Yorkshire and Humber Plan' was produced by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly and submitted to the Government in December 2005.
The findings and recommendations set out in the Panel report will be considered by the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber (acting on behalf of the Secretary of State) who will put forward proposed policy changes to the Submission Draft RSS for consultation over the summer. The Panel Report itself will not be subject to public consultation but is intended as guidance to the Secretary of State in making any necessary changes (the Panel's recommendations are not binding on the Secretary of State).
All
District Councils are required to prepare Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) that are in 'conformity' with the Regional Spatial Strategy for the area. In Harrogate, work to prepare a 'Core Strategy' , which is a key component of the LDF, is well advanced and is due to be submitted to Government in September 2007. This will show in broad terms how the District's housing requirement set out in the RSS will be accommodated. Another document, also currently in preparation, will identify specific parcels of land to be brought forward for development. These documents have already been subject to extensive public consultation and further opportunities for public involvement are proposed.
Details of the council's work to prepare the LDF are available on the council web-site.