Object

Representation ID: 27962

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: Bellway Homes Limited

Agent: Barton Wilmore

Our Client is generally supportive of the approach to utilise market demand and evidence of local need from the SHMA as a means of dictating housing mix, however, this is reliant on the SHMA being updated regularly. We would advise that the policy is revised to include a caveat that if the SHMA is out of date, it cannot be relied on as a means of guiding housing mix. As this acts as an incentive to the Council to keep it up to date.

There are question marks as to how this policy will work in practise and which element will take precedence if the demand in the market does not align with the SHMA. There are concerns regarding part C of the policy which states that additional guidance on housing mix on an area or site basis will be set out in site allocation pro formas and Neighbourhood Plans. Further explanation should be provided as to how the Council would deal with a situation whereby market demand does not align with housing mix as set out in either the SHMA or a Neighbourhood Plan as applicants will require clarity on this whilst preparing planning applications.