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ID sylw: 108365

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Mackenzie Miller Homes

Asiant : Lichfields (Birmingham)

5.1 Mackenzie Miller Homes does not object to the SWCs exploring New Settlements to meet
some housing needs and acknowledges that the SWCs will require various sites to address
the LHN and contribute towards the unmet housing needs from the neighbouring areas.
Paragraph 77 of the NPPF states:
“The supply of large numbers of new homes can often be best achieved through planning
for larger scale development, such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing
villages and towns, provided they are well located and designed, and supported by the
necessary infrastructure and facilities (including a genuine choice of transport modes)..”
5.2 It is important to highlight that the NPPF is also clear that plans should be prepared
positively, in a way that is aspirational but deliverable (Para 16b), and should identify
specific, developable sites or broad locations for growth, for years 6-10 and, where possible,
for years 11-15 of the plan (Para 72b).
5.3 However, Mackenzie Miller Homes would like to highlight large-scale developments such as
New Settlements often take years to fully deliver and may not meet all needs within the plan
period. Paragraph 22 of the NPPF states:
“Strategic policies should look ahead over a minimum 15 year period from adoption, to
anticipate and respond to long-term requirements and opportunities, such as those
arising from major improvements in infrastructure. Where larger scale developments
such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns form part
of the strategy for the area, policies should be set within a vision that looks further ahead
(at least 30 years), to take into account the likely timescale for delivery.” (Emphasis
Added).
5.4 The Councils must consider reasonable alternatives and be based on proportionate
evidence (Para 36b). It is considered that the Councils must evaluate alternative housing
distributions through the SA early on. It must also ensure a sufficient mix of sites that are
viable, available, and suitable (Para 69).
5.5 Furthermore, the Planning Practice Guidance [PPG] requires LPAs to show a reasonable
prospect that large-scale developments will come forward, including a realistic assessment
of development timelines and engagement with infrastructure providers to ensure
feasibility within the planned timescales (PPG ID: 61-060).
5.6 Given the above, Mackenzie Miller Homes would not object to the option of exploring
meeting some of the SWC’s needs through a New Settlement but would like to highlight to
the SWCs that sufficient evidence will need to be prepared in support of any future
allocation.
5.7 Notwithstanding this, Mackenzie Miller Homes believes that New Settlements should not
be the only option for meeting all of the SWLPs needs, as these types of developments take
many years to commence. Therefore, Mackenzie Miller Homes considers that SWCs should
use a mix of sites and sizes, including larger sites at different scales, within the SWLP area in sustainable locations to ensure that supply can come forward at different parts of the
plan period to meet the housing needs over the 2050 plan period. As such, it is considered
that larger sites such as land at Fell Mill and Leasow Farm should be allocated to help
meeting the LHN.