Havant Borough Council asks government to address local housing delivery issues

  1. The council has written to Housing Secretary Michael Gove MP to address the impact of the Dutch Case on the borough's Five-Year Housing Land Supply.
  2. The council has concerns about the effect of ad-hoc development, as a result of the Dutch Case and further suggested delays to the borough's Local Plan process.
  3. The council will decide the future direction for work on its Local Plan in the New Year.

Havant Borough Council continues work to progress its Local Plan - the document which will define and enforce suitable development for the borough - following an official response from the Planning Inspectorate.

The inspectors - appointed by the Secretary of State - made their initial recommendations in November. The council responded with a range of options to ensure some issues were addressed and that momentum was maintained in securing a Local Plan for the borough. Critically, the council highlighted that continuing with the examination would be the swiftest way to get the Local Plan in place. Getting a plan in place is universally accepted as a positive step and the best way to make sure that decisions on new development are properly considered.

Any interruption to getting a Local Plan in place impacts on the council meeting short-term housing requirements central government have put in place, known as a Five-Year Housing Land Supply. It also increases the chance for ad-hoc developments to be allowed in the absence of a considered, long-term vision, such as the recent grant of planning permission for 100 homes to the west of Hulbert Road in Bedhampton.

Additionally, the council has already been impacted by results of the Dutch Case, which required all new houses to be nutrient neutral. Despite winning awards for its work to deliver a solution, this has already severely impacted the council’s ability to meet its housing targets and Government has made no allowance for the impact of this.

This month, the inspectors have replied to the council's November response. Critically, they reinforce their view that they wish the council to withdraw the Local Plan, undertake additional work and re-submit at a later date. It is highlighted that in their view this would be the swiftest way to achieve a Local Plan for the borough, although it would involve restarting the process of preparing a plan rather than continuing with the existing one, which is at an advanced stage of preparation. This significant delay would further exacerbate issues of ad-hoc development in the borough into the medium term.

The council has taken close notice of the inspectors' response and will now assess its options, which will be formally considered at the full council meeting in the New Year. In addition, Councillor Alex Rennie - Leader of the Council - has formally written to Michael Gove MP (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) and Christopher Pincher MP (Minister of State for Housing) asking that those local authorities affected by the Dutch Case do not need to include the shortfall of past housing under-delivery in calculating their five-year housing supply. Havant Borough Council believes it wrong to penalise local authorities and local communities for this by allowing unplanned, ad-hoc and speculative development schemes to be permitted as a result. Additionally, Councillor Rennie has asked for their formal response regarding how the Planning Inspectorate should be pro-active in helping local authorities secure their Local Plans.

Councillor Alex Rennie said “As a local authority, we not only understand the obligation to meet housing targets, but also to do it in a meaningful and cohesive way which benefits businesses and residents alike. However, as a local authority, we feel compromised by the unique constraints the Dutch Case has had on our housing delivery and have called on central government to recognise this. We will explore all the options available to us, engage with the Planning Inspectorate further, but we remain firmly of the view that having a Local Plan is the best outcome for the borough and we remain determined that it is adopted.”

View the latest feedback from the Planning Inspectorate, the Leader's letter to ministers and more, visit our Local Plan Examination webpage.