Local Plan Saga continues

Shared Ownership.

An up date on Aruns local plan, the plan has been put on ice by the planning inspector (from The planning Inspectorate) for up to 18 months, leaving the District exposed to Planning by appeal, where Developers apply for permission, the Council rejects it and they go to the same Planning Inspectorate on appeal inevitably winning because there is no local plan in place, (its a farce and makes a mockery of localism)

It's a game that many Councils across the country are loosing due to the chips being stacked against them, the latest needs assessment says Arun needs 764 houses per year, but this is not for our Indigenous population, but for purchasers who are coming from London and other wealthier areas who are attracted by the areas lower prices and better quality of life,

How do we counter this obvious unfairness, I personally think we need a massive programme of building shared ownership property targeting our young people and getting them on the housing ladder, purchasers only need to buy 25% of the property which locally means anywhere between £40-50,000, they rent the other share at a subsidised rent, this would make up our numbers and because the houses/flats would be a higher density would negate the need to build larger family houses which developers prefer with the space that's expected, it would solve the housing need and help to limit the housing foot print, if we could build these homes with higher eco standards, eg with solar panels engineered in the design then we would help the environment and help new buyers with lower energy costs,

Until next month

Paul Dendle is Arundel Ward & Cabinet Member for Leisure & Amenities. Email: cllr.paul.dendle@arun.gov.uk