More and more local councils are increasing their housing target to what could, in some cases, be described as unsustainable levels.
1 UNREALISTIC housing targets are set
2 Councils are forced to allocate large amounts of land to meet targets
3 Developers cherry-pick the most profitable sites, usually prime greenfield ignoring brownfield
4 Building rates are kept slow by developers to keep prices high
5 Housing targets are inevitably missed
6 Councils are forced to allocate even more land
7 Developers again target the most profitable sites
AND WE ARE BACK AT UNREALISTIC HOUSING TARGETS being set ……..
Round and round we go!
Do approvals match delivery?
Whilst numerous housing applications are approved, the actual number of houses delivered in many authorities, historically and frequently falls far, far below the approval's granted. This means the much needed homes we need are not built.
One local authority we have been looking at with an historic 250 target shows that from 2005 to 2012 the average delivery was 179. Whilst the proposed target in the new draft local plan was originally recommended at a more sustainable, deliverable figure of 180, it has recently been increased by almost 50%. Is this sustainable?
If unsustainable targets are set by local authorities, those parts of the local plan dealing with housing and allocations become void - meaning areas where housing was not planned become vulnerable to development. Development becomes unsustainable. Our environment and the local people people pay a hefty price for this.
Sustainable is a much used word - interpreted in many ways! Let's take a look at sustainable in terms of development:
In 1987 The Brundtland Report was published by Oxford University. The report deals with sustainability. The report looks at planet earth not just one area. Why? Because someone needed to examine a global concern about, ‘the accelerating deterioration of the human environment and natural resources and the consequences of that deterioration for economic and social development.’
That seems to read as - we’re really worried that there won’t be any planet left to feed or home the population of the world if we are not careful.
Mr Brundtland definition of sustainable seems logical, succinct and quite simple to understand - logical and fair which is what planning should be all about.
Too many people use aspirational in terms of local planning. The Oxford Dictionary defines this word as follows: Definition of aspirational in English: adjective, Having or characterised by aspirations to achieve social prestige and material success:
We would prefer to see more use of realistic: Definition of realistic in English: adjective, having or showing a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected.
Realistic housing targets means achievable housing targets which mean we get the right homes, in the right place, for the right reasons at the right time!