On the 10th February, as we previously reported, Basildon councillors approved a motion to withdraw the Local Plan.
Unfortunately there were some issues with the council process such that a planning officers report had to be presented to all councillors before the decision to withdraw the Local Plan could be ratified.
That report was duly prepared and at a meeting of the council on 3 March a new vote was cast and the withdrawal of the Local Plan was finally confirmed. Again!
We now find ourselves waiting to see what happens next. We expect to see some relief being given to the Green Belt, as well as revised plans for the regeneration of Basildon town centre, as proposed by the current administration as the primary justifications for a new iteration of the Local Plan.
But just how far the council is prepared to go in terms of reducing the housing numbers by using the Green Belt as a valid constraint we just don’t know. We also don’t know how far the council will go in terms of reassessing all aspects of the previous version of the Local Plan, or whether they will simply make some some quick minor modifications and resubmit the plan to the Planning Inspector .
Our view is that they should take time and do a good job that truly benefits all the residents of the borough, whether they live in the urban or rural areas. They should not feel pressured into making hasty decisions and another bad Local Plan.
This is especially important as we strongly believe that the Government is very close to making some important changes to how housing targets are calculated that should see a significant reduction in the numbers in the south of the country.
With all this in mind we have set out a 10 points that we would like to see our councillors and council officers consider when creating the new Local Plan.
Unfortunately there were some issues with the council process such that a planning officers report had to be presented to all councillors before the decision to withdraw the Local Plan could be ratified.
That report was duly prepared and at a meeting of the council on 3 March a new vote was cast and the withdrawal of the Local Plan was finally confirmed. Again!
We now find ourselves waiting to see what happens next. We expect to see some relief being given to the Green Belt, as well as revised plans for the regeneration of Basildon town centre, as proposed by the current administration as the primary justifications for a new iteration of the Local Plan.
But just how far the council is prepared to go in terms of reducing the housing numbers by using the Green Belt as a valid constraint we just don’t know. We also don’t know how far the council will go in terms of reassessing all aspects of the previous version of the Local Plan, or whether they will simply make some some quick minor modifications and resubmit the plan to the Planning Inspector .
Our view is that they should take time and do a good job that truly benefits all the residents of the borough, whether they live in the urban or rural areas. They should not feel pressured into making hasty decisions and another bad Local Plan.
This is especially important as we strongly believe that the Government is very close to making some important changes to how housing targets are calculated that should see a significant reduction in the numbers in the south of the country.
With all this in mind we have set out a 10 points that we would like to see our councillors and council officers consider when creating the new Local Plan.
1. The OAN housing number is a starting point not a target that has to be met.
2. The Green Belt is a valid constraint to a lower housing number in a Local Plan.
3. The NPPF mandates brownfield first.
4. The urban brownfield, and any non-Green Belt developments, should address the 5 year land supply and the housing delivery test, not any yet to be released Green Belt sites.
5. Housing distribution should be based on localised need, site suitability & sustainability, not simply proportionate to existing population density.
6. There needs to be clear traffic analysis and mitigation for all sites individually, and sites collectively with in the same area/town.
7. Safe and efficient cycle and walking routes should exist from all sites to local services.
8. All new infrastructure needs should be clearly identified, costed, noted by the infrastructure providers and documented in the housing policies and Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP). There should be no ambiguity on who is responsible for delivery and cost, and when.
9. Sites should deliver the right sort of housing for local needs, specifically to help younger people get a home of their own, ensuring that Government schemes, such as First Homes, are documented in the appropriate policies. All housing should be made exclusively available to local people to buy or rent for 6 months from when released (on or off plan).
10. Open space within the new estates should meet Garden Community standards of >50% to create good places to live and make a net increase in biodiversity potentially achievable.
2. The Green Belt is a valid constraint to a lower housing number in a Local Plan.
3. The NPPF mandates brownfield first.
4. The urban brownfield, and any non-Green Belt developments, should address the 5 year land supply and the housing delivery test, not any yet to be released Green Belt sites.
5. Housing distribution should be based on localised need, site suitability & sustainability, not simply proportionate to existing population density.
6. There needs to be clear traffic analysis and mitigation for all sites individually, and sites collectively with in the same area/town.
7. Safe and efficient cycle and walking routes should exist from all sites to local services.
8. All new infrastructure needs should be clearly identified, costed, noted by the infrastructure providers and documented in the housing policies and Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP). There should be no ambiguity on who is responsible for delivery and cost, and when.
9. Sites should deliver the right sort of housing for local needs, specifically to help younger people get a home of their own, ensuring that Government schemes, such as First Homes, are documented in the appropriate policies. All housing should be made exclusively available to local people to buy or rent for 6 months from when released (on or off plan).
10. Open space within the new estates should meet Garden Community standards of >50% to create good places to live and make a net increase in biodiversity potentially achievable.
Another key point to note is that nearly every councillor that spoke in favour of withdrawing the Local Plan made comment that residents should be actively involved in the creation of the next Local Plan. We fully support this and will do all we can to ensure that it happens. We were largely excluded and ignored before. That cannot be allowed to happen again.
Finally, despite what you might read or hear, the treat of Government intervention is just that. No action will be taken unless Basildon council doesn’t show good progress in creating a new Local Plan. The Minister of State for Housing is giving Basildon that opportunity. Furthermore, suggestions that developers will now run riot because we have no Local Plan is again no more than a fear factor argument and is factually incorrect. We still have the current Local Plan in place and that defines the Green Belt where development can’t take place. We expect the council to continue to robustly apply existing saved policies and continue to protect such land. And we expect developers will think twice before embarking on costly challenges to any planning application refusals as a result.
As soon as we have further detail on the new Local Plan we will post them here and on our Facebook page.
Between us we have shown that change is possible. However, residents must continue to fight for a better Local Plan. There is more work to do!
Finally, despite what you might read or hear, the treat of Government intervention is just that. No action will be taken unless Basildon council doesn’t show good progress in creating a new Local Plan. The Minister of State for Housing is giving Basildon that opportunity. Furthermore, suggestions that developers will now run riot because we have no Local Plan is again no more than a fear factor argument and is factually incorrect. We still have the current Local Plan in place and that defines the Green Belt where development can’t take place. We expect the council to continue to robustly apply existing saved policies and continue to protect such land. And we expect developers will think twice before embarking on costly challenges to any planning application refusals as a result.
As soon as we have further detail on the new Local Plan we will post them here and on our Facebook page.
Between us we have shown that change is possible. However, residents must continue to fight for a better Local Plan. There is more work to do!
