Conservative-run North Lincolnshire Council has submitted to government that proposed planning changes would have “detrimental effects” on the area.
The new Labour government has proposed a raft of changes to the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF), as it aims to get built 1.5m homes in five years. These include support for onshore wind and solar farms, and greatly increased housing targets.
Under the proposals, North Lincolnshire’s housing target would go from 363 to 746 homes a year. Councils submitted their responses to an eight-week consultation in late September. North Lincolnshire Council’s Cabinet discussed responses to a survey it ran on the changes.
The council’s survey was criticised by the opposition Labour group as creating “a NIMBY’s charter”.
‘We are not Surrey’ – council leader on housing market
Cllr David Rose, cabinet member for environment and strategy, said responses from a council public consultation showed concern the possible new housing number was “unrealistic and arbitrary”. 71 per cent of 751 responses do not support plans to increase the number of new houses.
There was “significant concern about the loss of farmland and green spaces”, and 54 per cent do not support plans for more onshore wind and solar farms. The online survey saw also raised infrastructure concerns, the need for social housing to rent, and affordable homes.
Cllr Rose said a survey report supported residents’ views, recognising proposed changes would have a “detrimental effect” across North Lincolnshire. “It’s quite damning for democracy, the thought of central government taking more planning decisions,” suggested council leader Cllr Rob Waltham of the impact of planning changes.
Labour group leader Cllr Len Foster was unimpressed by the survey. “Questions asked and the outcome as far as I’m concerned are very deliberate to avoid the building of any homes and easing the problem locally of housing demand.
“We have to build new homes… to have the creation of a NIMBY’s charter of North Lincolnshire is an insult to everybody who hasn’t a home over their head.” He said the new government plans would ensure, “If you’re homeless, you’re 100 per cent going to have a house.”
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Cllr Waltham said the suggestion the survey had no value “does feel a little bit patronising, some would say condescending” to participants. “If we do significantly increase the number of houses in our area, we will be developing at any cost,” he warned, irrespective of infrastructure. “We are not Surrey”, a high market area where there was greater developer demand, Cllr Waltham added.
The published survey results do not confirm the demographics of those who participated, such as age and geography. Grimsby Live has asked the council if this was collected as part of the survey.
“We are in a housing crisis so all areas of the country, including Lincolnshire, must play their part in ending it by building the homes we need,” a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson has previously said of the proposals. This will include the government working in partnership with councils.
Local Plan review
In 2022, the council submitted its latest Local Plan, setting out land for housing. The council’s cabinet agreed to withdraw and review it for up to six months in lieu of the proposed planning system changes.
Cllr Rose said planning inspectors had asked a range of questions since its submission. So had Natural England, “which have added a great deal of complexity to the examination”.
“We’ve not got any choice,” he said of a withdrawal and review, with inspectors telling the council it was needed because of the proposed NPPF changes.
Cllr Max Bell asked if there was a formal recommendation in writing from inspectors to withdraw the plan. He also said it was “well-documented that when you don’t have a Local Plan in place, it’s significantly easier for developers to win on appeal”.
Cllr Waltham replied that he could supply a letter from the Deputy Prime Minister setting out Labour’s housing ambitions. “Frankly, the planning inspectorate probably wouldn’t sign off on the existing Local Plan,” because it would not meet the new requirements, he said. As for protection on appeals, Cllr Waltham pointed to the area’s eight year housing supply, based on the 363 homes a year rate.
“With respect, you haven’t answered the question,” countered Cllr Bell. “I’ve given as much detail as I’m able to at this moment,” replied Cllr Waltham.
Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe