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Comment

New Local Plan

1.4 How should Southend develop in the future in seeking to deliver 18,000 - 24,000 new homes and 10,000 - 12,000 new jobs, please select from one of the options stating your reasoning.

Representation ID: 4002

Received: 02/04/2019

Respondent: House Builders Federation

Representation Summary:

The identified need for 24,000 homes over next 20 years should be regarded as a minimum. There may be circumstances where this should be increased: e.g. unmet need from neighbouring authorities and assessment as to whether a higher requirement is needed to improve the provision of affordable housing. Any changes in affordability ratio will need to be reflected in assessment of need in future iterations of the Local Plan.

Object

New Local Plan

OPTION 1 - All development within existing built up areas of Southend

Representation ID: 4003

Received: 02/04/2019

Respondent: House Builders Federation

Representation Summary:

There are significant disadvantages with option 1 and this should be recognised as such by the Council and inform any decision as to the most appropriate spatial strategy. These options will most likely not meet the needs for affordable housing, house prices will increase, affordability will worsen and there is potential for more overcrowding within existing properties.
The Council will need to consider the disadvantages of not meeting housing needs through the Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Plan.

Object

New Local Plan

OPTION 2 - Most development within existing built up area, focused in specific locations such as the Town Centre, Airport and main passenger transport corridors, with some development on the edge

Representation ID: 4004

Received: 02/04/2019

Respondent: House Builders Federation

Representation Summary:

There are significant disadvantages with option 2 and this should be recognised as such by the Council and inform any decision as to the most appropriate spatial strategy. These options will most likely not meet the needs for affordable housing, house prices will increase, affordability will worsen and there is potential for more overcrowding within existing properties.
The Council will need to consider the disadvantages of not meeting housing needs through the Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Plan.

Support

New Local Plan

OPTION 3 - Option 2 + working with neighbouring authorities to develop a comprehensive new settlement across Borough boundaries (strategic scale development)

Representation ID: 4005

Received: 02/04/2019

Respondent: House Builders Federation

Representation Summary:

Only Option 3 meets the development needs of the area and as such is only one the Council must take forward. Potential for delivering strategic scale cross boundary development between Southend Borough Council and Rochford District Council. Welcome joint working across South Essex on Joint Strategic Plan (JSP).
However, other areas assessed and dismissed in the South East Essex Growth Locations Study may offer opportunities for smaller scale development that will play an important part in meeting the areas housing needs in the early part of the plan period. The impact of this on Green Belt will also need to be assessed.
Given the need for a high degree of cross boundary working required to meet needs suggest that individual Statements of Common Ground are established (if they do not exist already) with both Rochford and Castle Point to provide clarity on how needs will be met in full across south east Essex. Whilst it is appreciate that the South Essex JSP is intended to provide the main framework for strategic planning in future it is necessary for separate statements to consider issues between adjacent authorities and establish the actions and policies required to develop a strategy that meet the areas objectively assessed needs.

Comment

New Local Plan

2. How best do you think we should provide for our future housing needs

Representation ID: 4006

Received: 02/04/2019

Respondent: House Builders Federation

Representation Summary:

The NPPF requires local planning authorities to make the most effective use of land in meeting the need for homes and other uses in their area. However, in making these decisions it will be important for the Council to reflect on the ability of development in Southend on Sea to achieve higher densities. Development viability, market conditions and availability of infrastructure can all be barriers to significantly higher densities and therefore delivery expectations on sites in the urban area should not be over-estimated.

Comment

New Local Plan

2. How best do you think we should provide for our future housing needs

Representation ID: 4007

Received: 02/04/2019

Respondent: House Builders Federation

Representation Summary:

The level of contribution for affordable housing should not be aspirational but based on viability. If the Council wishes to deliver more affordable housing, then it should seek to allocate more land for development rather than seek to increase the proportion of affordable housing it requires from each site

Comment

New Local Plan

2. How best do you think we should provide for our future housing needs

Representation ID: 4008

Received: 02/04/2019

Respondent: House Builders Federation

Representation Summary:

All dwellings will be built to M4(1) technical standards but adoption of the options technical standards should be based on evidence of need for housing for people with specific housing needs.

Comment

New Local Plan

12. How best do you think the Local Plan can be effectively delivered in the face of limited resources

Representation ID: 4009

Received: 02/04/2019

Respondent: House Builders Federation

Representation Summary:

Need to assess cumulative impact of all policies on development viability. The Council will also need to balance their aspirations for place making with those for affordable housing and infrastructure. There is a danger that the Council expects the development industry to shoulder all these burdens and in doing so the deliverability of the local plan could be compromised.

Comment

New Local Plan

1. What would you like Southend to be in the future

Representation ID: 4010

Received: 02/04/2019

Respondent: House Builders Federation

Representation Summary:

It is essential that SBC moves quickly and prepare a plan for publication and consultation under regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning Regulations. In doing so it will be important that the Council works closely with neighbouring areas to ensure that needs are met in full. The Council will also need to balance their aspirations for place making with those for affordable housing and infrastructure. There is a danger that the Council expects the development industry to shoulder all these burdens and in doing so the deliverability of the local plan could be compromised.

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