Comment

Representation ID: 29657

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: Leeds City Council

Housing Need and Requirement

1. Housing and green belt release.

a. The plan proposes allocations for 30, 672 new homes required over the plan period 2020-2038, which equates to 1,704 dwellings per annum. The vast majority of the proposed allocations needed to meet these requirements are on brownfield land, which is supported.

It is noted that some greenfield and green belt land is also required. The Council notes that exceptional circumstances for the release of green belt relate solely to the need to meet the overall housing number. This housing number does not include the Government uplift of 35% which would require an additional 10,735 new homes, totalling 41,407 if uplift was applied. Whilst we understand that were this higher number to be addressed it is highly likely that more greenfield and green belt land would need to be released we would welcome this being formally tested as a reasonable alternative so that we could understand and provide a view on its impacts, particularly with regard to the spatial strategy, further green belt encroachment/release, phasing of development and the wider impacts upon infrastructure and school place planning. We understand that Bradford intend to carry out further evidence in support of this and wish to reserve our position on this until further evidence/information is provided through further consultation (with specific Leeds sections such as Highways and Children’s Services) and/or duty to cooperate discussions.