South West Housing Initiative

GOVERNMENT DECISION TO POSTPONE THE SOUTH WEST’S PLAN THREATENS TO PARALYSE VITAL HOUSING

EU legal hiccup puts many South West councils in a quandary, say housing experts

A Government decision to further delay finalising the South West‘s “Regional Spatial Strategy” will paralyse the delivery of much-needed new homes, according to the region‘s housing leaders.

The delayed plan recognises a need for 30,000 new homes per year at a time when less than 20,000 are being built in the South West.

The South West Housing Initiative – a unique partnership of the region‘s home-builders, housing associations, housing professions, and employers – fears that the latest Government delay is creating a climate of confusion and uncertainty for local council planners and housing developers.

Government is postponing finalisation of the South West plan, pending more studies into “sustainability”, following a legal challenge to the Eastern region‘s plan, that has been judged to have fallen short of EU regulations.

Martin Willey, co-ordinator of the South West Housing Initiative, said: “All our partners, including the private home-builders and housing associations, recognise the crucial value of environmental and sustainability issues – especially in this region.

“But, while this region has one of the country‘s biggest housing crises, with a massive affordability gap between average earnings and average house-prices and a yawning gap between housing need and housing delivery, this announcement could not have come at a worse time”, said Mr Willey.

Every council in the South West is charged with creating a plan (a Local Development Framework), including identifying land for new housing, to fit the Regional Spatial Strategy that was due to be finalised earlier this year. Those local plans are what enable the councils to allocate land and handle planning applications from housing providers.

“This latest delay means that those plans cannot be completed or reviewed properly. Many planning applications for much needed housing are awaiting submission or consideration until the regional housing figures are agreed. Housebuilders and housing associations, keen to meet the region‘s housing needs, will find their proposals put back”, Mr Willey explained.

“We do understand the legal snag that is hampering Government progress, but measures must be introduced quickly to give some certainty to those seeking to invest in much needed housing for the South West”, said Mr Willey.

END 28th September 2009

For further information please contact David Sturgess, Sturgess Van Damme, on 01275 349011 or email david@sturgessvandamme.co.uk