BAG view on the implementation of Government policies for Housing Development
We do not believe that government has formed a balanced view of UK housing needs. Why? Because the escalating numbers are driven by specialist consultants and professional lobbyists who operate in the field to satisfy their clients - without input from UK residents.
Local Plans are being designed to satisfy the expansionist desires of local and national politicians without regard to the electorate.
Despite the inflated national housing target, we doubt that sufficient affordable housing will be provided for UK residents. Developers will always seek the maximum profit by building larger ‘executive’ homes. Such unconstrained development consumes more valuable land than necessary to house our population.
Government policies intended to protect the Green Belt have loopholes that allow development: meanwhile brownfield sites remain unused. Developers will avoid the higher costs and reduced profits for developing brownfield sites while these loopholes remain. At the latest count over 400,000 houses already with planning permission are still waiting to be built, but developers and landowners continue to covet the more profitable but irreplaceable Green Belt. Various studies show building on Green Belt does not lead to homes that are affordable.
Our Prime Minister says she will protect the Green Belt, but the legislation does not. There seems to be little evidence that this is anything more than a vote buying sound bite.
Essex County Council is responsible for significant areas of infrastructure provision. Its meagre input to Basildon’s Local Plan leaves us convinced there is a funding shortfall that will make the plan ‘unsound’. Basildon Council’s own analysis shows an infrastructure funding gap of c£200M.
Government policies aimed at obtaining a necessary contribution to infrastructure costs are weak or misplaced. Profit-seeking developers will always minimise their contributions for necessary infrastructure.
Basildon Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy proposals would see Billericay become a cash cow for meeting infrastructure needs across the Borough with little direct benefit to our Town.
Although not yet finally agreed the draft proposals would see the same average size new house in Billericay contributing around £36,000 to the infrastructure fund, one in Wickford contributing around £24,000 and one in Basildon around £5,000.
Basildon Council says infrastructure must be in place when new homes are populated: given the predicted funding shortfall this will not be achieved in South Essex.
Local Plans are being designed to satisfy the expansionist desires of local and national politicians without regard to the electorate.
Despite the inflated national housing target, we doubt that sufficient affordable housing will be provided for UK residents. Developers will always seek the maximum profit by building larger ‘executive’ homes. Such unconstrained development consumes more valuable land than necessary to house our population.
Government policies intended to protect the Green Belt have loopholes that allow development: meanwhile brownfield sites remain unused. Developers will avoid the higher costs and reduced profits for developing brownfield sites while these loopholes remain. At the latest count over 400,000 houses already with planning permission are still waiting to be built, but developers and landowners continue to covet the more profitable but irreplaceable Green Belt. Various studies show building on Green Belt does not lead to homes that are affordable.
Our Prime Minister says she will protect the Green Belt, but the legislation does not. There seems to be little evidence that this is anything more than a vote buying sound bite.
Essex County Council is responsible for significant areas of infrastructure provision. Its meagre input to Basildon’s Local Plan leaves us convinced there is a funding shortfall that will make the plan ‘unsound’. Basildon Council’s own analysis shows an infrastructure funding gap of c£200M.
Government policies aimed at obtaining a necessary contribution to infrastructure costs are weak or misplaced. Profit-seeking developers will always minimise their contributions for necessary infrastructure.
Basildon Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy proposals would see Billericay become a cash cow for meeting infrastructure needs across the Borough with little direct benefit to our Town.
Although not yet finally agreed the draft proposals would see the same average size new house in Billericay contributing around £36,000 to the infrastructure fund, one in Wickford contributing around £24,000 and one in Basildon around £5,000.
Basildon Council says infrastructure must be in place when new homes are populated: given the predicted funding shortfall this will not be achieved in South Essex.
