Housing: Construction

Department for Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 15 December 2017.

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Photo of Priti Patel Priti Patel Conservative, Witham

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if a (a) local planning authority, and (b) planning inspector, is able to consider as a material planning consideration, the likelihood of a local planning authority making up a shortfall identified in its five year supply of deliverable housing sites in later years in an (i) existing Local Plan; and (ii) emerging Local Plan, when determining planning application.

Photo of Priti Patel Priti Patel Conservative, Witham

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether a local planning authority not able to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites can deliver the shortfall in future years in the Local Plan period.

Photo of Priti Patel Priti Patel Conservative, Witham

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether a (a) local planning authority and (b) planning inspector has a duty to consider as a material planning consideration (i) the delivery of new housing during the course of a Local Plan period of fifteen years and (ii) each five-year period of the supply of housing sites for new housing when considering the impact and weighting of a local authority's position in relation to their delivery of a five-year supply of housing sites.

Photo of Priti Patel Priti Patel Conservative, Witham

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what consideration (a) local planning authorities and (b) planning inspectors should give to the scheduled building of new infrastructure beyond the five-year period for the supply of deliverable housing sites when determining planning applications in circumstances where a local planning authority (a) can and (b) cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable sites.

Photo of Alok Sharma Alok Sharma Minister of State (Communities and Local Government)

The starting point for decisions by local planning authorities and planning inspectors will be the approved development plan for the area taking into account relevant material considerations, including national planning policy and guidance. All housing allocations and infrastructure plans need to be deliverable.

Where a Local Planning Authority (LPA) has not delivered sufficient completions in previous years against its housing requirement this will result in a shortfall of supply against the five year land supply. The preferred approach (as set out in Planning Guidance) to addressing past shortfalls is to ensure they are met within a five year period (known as the Sedgefield method), but LPAs have argued at both examinations and appeals that due to their particular circumstances they need to meet the past shortfalls over the whole plan period. Inspectors have considered the most appropriate approach on a case by case basis.

To ensure that the guidance on five year land supply is suitably clear, transparent and comprehensive, the Government committed in the Housing White Paper to issue new guidance.

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