Support

Representation ID: 17516

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes

Agent: ID Planning

We support (with amendments) the proposed Green Belt releases to provide sustainable sites to deliver the current identified housing requirement.
The supporting text of the policy refers to Safeguarded land and states that land has not been safeguarded in the plan to reduce the harm to the Green Belt as a result of reducing the amount of land released from the Green Belt. In addition, paragraph 3.5.27 of the plan states that the Governments focus of housing uplift of 35% shows a greater intent for the development in urban areas rather than in greenfield/ green belt locations.
We object to the statement in two respects. Firstly, the plan should identify areas of safeguarded land on the Policies Map to address under-delivery and be available if a five year housing land supply cannot be met. The identified for Safeguarded land meets longer term development need for housing and ensures that Green Belt boundaries can endure beyond the plan period.
Secondly, the statement at paragraph 3.5.27 of the Plan conflicts with the policy text which details that exceptional circumstances exist for the release of Green Belt. Clearly if there were sufficient suitable, deliverable and available sites in urban areas there would not be exceptional circumstances to support the release of Green Belt. Additional Green Belt sites and Safeguarded land should be allocated to support the delivery of the housing in the district over the plan period. As a result of the full Green Belt review carried out, Safeguarded land should be allocated to ensure the longevity of the Green Belt and avoid the need for future partial reviews of the plan.
Required Change
The policy and policies map should be amended to provide additional releases of Green Belt sites and Safeguarded land allocations to meet the housing requirement and ensure the longevity of Green Belt boundaries whilst ensuring the housing requirement is met.