Simon Dimmick and Kayleigh Chapman, in our leading Planning & Environmental law team, discuss Reading Borough Council's draft local plan and its implications for housing in the area.
On 13 December 2016 four local authorities published the West of Berkshire Spatial Planning Framework (“the Framework”). The four authorities were Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire, Reading Borough and Wokingham Borough Council.
The Framework sets out an agreed objectively assessed need (“OAN”) for housing across the local authorities’ areas. The total figure was 65,665 houses to be delivered up to 2036. Of this figure 16,077 homes would need to be provided in Reading Borough Council’s area, equivalent to 699 homes per annum.
Reading Borough Council has now published its draft Local Plan for the period from 2013 to 2036. The plan makes provision for 15,134 dwellings to be delivered over the plan period. This equates to a 41 dwellings per year under provision in comparison to the Framework’s OAN.
The Council recognises the disparity between the two figures and relies on a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment published May 2017 to support its figures for deliverable homes. In particular, the Council points to fact that much of the undeveloped land in the Borough is primarily flood plain or important public open space.
The Framework also recognised the constraints that Reading would face in meeting its OAN and Reading envisages that the other authorities will accommodate the shortfall.
The consultation period on the draft Local Plan runs from 1 May 2017 to 14 June 2017.
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This article is intended for the use of clients and other interested parties. The information contained in it is believed to be correct at the date of publication, but it is necessarily of a brief and general nature and should not be relied upon as a substitute for specific professional advice.
