Preferred Options

NPPF paragraph 47 requires local plans to meet their full, objectively assessed needs for market and affordable housing in the housing market area, as far as is consistent with other NPPF policy (para. 47). Paragraph 159 clarifies that this should be done through a Strategic Housing Market Assessment, working with neighbouring authorities where housing market areas cross administrative boundaries.
Housing Need has been assessed through the Council's Housing Market Assessment and the Council recognises that, due to timing, it has not been possible to prepare a sub-regional Housing Market Assessment. The preferred option approach of bringing forward a Local Plan to deliver this level of growth and not delaying the local plan to prepare a housing market assessment across administrative boundaries is supported by this Council. We understand that this approach is also likely to be supported by Inspectors.
From past experience I would also add that there can be significant difficulties in defining housing market areas, which are far from exclusive in this area of the Country, and producing assessments to satisfy each local authority's requirements.
We note that the assumed scale of out migration from the conurbation has been reduced, however, the Preferred Option places no reliance on Solihull to meet any of Warwick's assessed need and this is supported by Solihull Council. The Solihull Draft Local Plan has reached an advanced stage in its progress to submission and any such reliance would by contrary to sub-regional strategies, the Solihull Draft Local Plan Spatial Strategy and could only be met through green belt release in rural areas of the Borough.