Arun is still to
decide on its local plan, the current evidence in the SMHA (Strategic Housing
Market Assessment) says that we
should build for the next 15 years 565 houses per annum, currently we are building 725 last year and already there are permissions
in place to build many thousands of houses in new estates in north
Littlehampton.
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| Arun's Local Plan. |
The Local Plan
process was designed by the previous government in an attempt to get more
houses built; the current coalition government has gone along with that process
because they want new housing. But
locally there is rightly resistance to building houses for people who come from
outside the district to settle here and then commute to Gatwick, Brighton or
Portsmouth.
As a District
Council we want more jobs and are willing to build houses for those people, but
we don’t see it as our duty to be Gatwick’s dormitory. Any numbers we agree will be subject to
agreement by an Inspector and if we set the number too low, then our plan will
be rejected.
Why does this
matter? Because then we are open house
for any speculative developers who want to build on any site, yes we can reject
it in our planning process, but if they then go to law which is what they are
increasing doing, then because we don’t have a local plan in place, the judge
will decide in favour of the developer and award costs against Arun. That’s tax payer monies going down the drain
and is not a way to run a planning system.
Arundel has an issue with Horses Field, but because Arun does not have a
Local plan in place it is at risk of a speculative application.
As Councillors we
are between a rock and a hard place, the electorate can’t understand why we
would agree to build houses in these numbers on one side, and developers who
don’t want to see our local plan succeed and take advantage of the situation.
I have not made a decision yet (As this would be pre-determination and would
preclude me from the debate and vote), but I am increasingly coming to the
conclusion that we have to agree a plan as soon as possible and one that will
get past the Inspector. I also
personally believe that these houses should be the highest ecological rating
(eco code 5 or 6) as this may be a break of sorts on the developers and will
ensure that we get a quality sustainable build.
It’s a difficult call either way, but I will listen to residents and
then take a view.
On another matter, the local
Conservative branch is holding a social event at Sage Restaurant on the 2-8
Castle Mews in Tarrant Street, Nick Herbert MP will be there to speak. The cost
is £29.50pp for two courses which also includes a welcome glass of
sparkling wine, if anyone
wants to attend (You don’t have to be a member)
then contact Mr Bruce
Henderson, Branch Treasurer tel: 01903 882928 or
email bruceghenderson@gmail.com
Paul Dendle is the Arundel ward & Cabinet member for the Environment
on Arun DC. He can be contacted at Pauldendle@aol.com and his web site is
www.pauldendle.org
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