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ID sylw: 106186

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Acres Land & Planning

The December 2024 NPPF and the new Standard Method figures have completely altered the context for the Plan’s housing requirements. Authorities cannot submit figures which don’t conform to the Standard Method without clear justification. The housing proposals will need to conform with Table 3 of the Plan, subject to additional unmet need from other authorities (such as Birmingham and the Black Country) which have yet to be factored in. Draft Policy Direction 1 needs to be adjusted accordingly and Table 2 should be deleted. This is important since the new standard method figures are 30% higher.

We would expect most of South Warwickshire’s housing needs to be accommodated within Priority Areas 1, 2 and 3 and accompanied by associated infrastructure. This should not preclude development in smaller settlements. Some development is essential to meet market demand and local needs in communities and use existing infrastructure more efficiently. Paragraph 77 of the NPPF provides an option, not an instruction. The Growth Locations and Potential New Settlements should not ‘soak up’ all residual housing and investment – provision of new infrastructure and facilities is a very expensive option.

The Government has signalled a new approach to Green Belt, including introducing ‘grey belt’. This should trigger green belt reviews at strategic level and locally where necessary within smaller communities – such as Offchurch, where the local pub has closed partly due to a lack of modest organic growth. Elsewhere shops are closing, bus routes are being withdrawn and schools are at risk.