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V28-335 : WAVENEY LOCAL PLAN REVIEW, HOUSING TOPIC PAPER

The report of the Head of Planning presented the Waveney Local Plan's Housing Topic paper for discussion. The Head of Planning highlighted that the new Government directive was a radical change of approach to new housing provision, more than just housing issues. Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3) was issued in March 2000, and advocated a new era of the use of more sustainable `brownfield' land for housing in towns. The aim was to bring people back into towns reducing travel needs, thus protecting the countryside from development, and creating an `urban renaissance'. The policy though would need far greater analysis of sites, which coupled with an increased use of Compulsory Purchase Orders, could lead to resource implications.

The Chairman recognised the problems such as unlocated drains/cabling and the workings of the new Contaminated Land Act in relation to the use of brownfield sites, and that sustainability equated to a more expensive process. The Council however had a policy duty to act almost as a facilitator of PPG3.

The Head of Planning added that a significant issue of PPG3 was the creation of new communities in towns, not dormitories on the edge as previously. An edict of `plan, monitor and manage' would replace the former `predict and provide'. The brownfield approach was previously uncharted territory, and would need an holistic approach. There must be scope for diversity with the sites, some may be needed to be earmarked as public open space to balance the needs of where housing was added nearby on others.

Councillors were aware of the trend toward people retiring to the district, and felt a suitable type of dwelling, plus an element of low rise flats and smaller terraced dwellings with adequate amenity space would be needed in the mix which would create the optimum density suggested in PPG3. Councillors were also aware that development of brownfield sites created smaller developer's profit margins, and therefore were not favoured by the building trades, but this would have to be addressed at a meeting with them. The Head of Planning advised that additionally, smaller developments left little scope for specific Section 106 Agreements; a revised policy of a scale of contributions may need to be put in place. An alternative may be funding from Government to allow sites to be cleared and cleaned first before being marketed.

Councillors felt the filling of empty houses could be utilised in the housing allocation figures, and that the charging of full Council Tax on empty or `second-home' holiday properties should be addressed; the Head of Planning confirmed this was presently the subject of national debate.

The Chairman felt the Panel must formulate a sequential approach to the brownfield site issues, with flexibility in it to address community and employment needs, whilst embracing the regeneration aspects. Once this strategy had been confirmed as policy by The Executive, the Panel could then look at each site, and with input from the Area Forums, decide on its designation. The Head of Planning added that the strategy could also have clear linkages with other topics such as transport.

RESOLVED

That the comments of the Panel on the Waveney Local Plan Housing Topics paper be noted, and officers continue to formulate strategies and policies on the issues, for presentation at a future meeting.


Volume 28 Minute 335

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