Futures Forum: Nieghbourhood Plan: and the impact of the St Ives ban on new-build second homes
This is the latest move, developers are challenging councils with no five-year housing supply. Fortunately, East Devon has such a policy in place. But still...
House builders launch neighbourhood planning judicial review
A group of 25 house builders and land promoters have launched a judicial review against a rule change allowing councils with Neighbourhood Plans to block development.
In a written ministerial statement published on 12 December, Gavin Barwell said local authorities in areas with a Neighbourhood Plan in place would now be required to have a three-year supply of deliverable housing sites in place, rather than a five-year supply as had previously been the case, before facing sanctions.
The group of house builders, understood to include at least one top 10 house builder and several smaller firms, are going to court to have this decision overturned.
In areas where councils do not have a five-year supply, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) deems Neighbourhood Plans automatically out-of-date and grants a presumption in favour of development in planning disputes.
House builders launch neighbourhood planning judicial review | News | Inside Housing
This is what the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has to say:
NALC urges government to stand firm on neighbourhood planning
NALC urges the government to stand firm against certain developer forces that seem to want to ride roughshod against the wishes of communities.
Recently a consortium of developers have formally launched a legal challenge to overturning the government's move to strengthen neighbourhood plans in areas where local authority does not have a five year housing land supply.
Local councils play an increasingly important role in communities especially in neighbourhood planning as it is local councils that are at the heart of and driving forward the neighbourhood planning revolution, with around 90% of the 2000 communities developing a neighbourhood plan being led by England’s most local level of democracy.
Ironically local councils are helping communities to shake off their Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) critics by increasingly supporting housing development and growth, with the government’s own evidence showing they are increasing housing numbers by around 10%.
NALC calls on developers to work more closely with local councils and communities on fulfilling housing needs that this country desperately needs.
Neighbourhood planning is being used by local councils not only to shape and influence development in their area but also to increase housing and affordable housing, help communities become more resilient and support economic development, in addition to strengthening local democracy as the process is leading to more people standing for election to their local council.
The process is also exciting local people and generating a huge community interest, encouraging citizens to engage with often difficult local issues and often becoming more involved in the community including the work of local councils. Thousands of volunteers across the country are being mobilised by local councils to develop neighbourhood plans, with around 400,000 electors engaged in the process and casting their vote through local referendums to date.
Cllr Sue Baxter, chairman of NALC said: “We strongly urge the government to resist any calls from developers to water down the effectiveness of neighbourhood plans. Also we call on this consortium of developers to change their tack and work more closely with local councils and communities on future housing and developer needs. Finally it is important to stress that neighbourhood planning is not about NIMBYism but in fact it is the opposite allowing for more appropriate housing and development to meet community needs.”
NALC urges government to stand firm on neighbourhood planning - News
With further comment from the Rural Services Network:
Sunday, 29 January 2017 20:21
Keep neighbourhood plans watertight, say councils
Written by Ruralcity Media
Parish councils are urging the government to stand firm against developers who “want to ride roughshod” over the wishes of rural communities.
It comes after developers challenged a government move to strengthen neighbourhood plans in areas where the local authority does not have a five year housing land supply.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC), which represents parish and town councils, called on government ministers to reject the challenge.
Neighbourhood plans enable local communities can shape the sort of development they want in their local area.
Keep neighbourhood plans watertight, say councils
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