Council has cautious acceptance for South East Plan report
News release dated 30 August about the South East Plan report.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council joined other leaders from Surrey in a cautious acceptance of the Government Inspector’s report on the Draft South East Plan that proposes 10% more new homes across the region.
“This Council is committed to ensuring that growth is properly planned in sustainable locations and supported by adequate infrastructure.” (Cllr Dr Lynne Hack, Leader of the Council)
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council Leader Cllr Dr Lynne Hack expressed concern that a disproportionate share of this increase is earmarked for Surrey, even though its capacity for further development is highly constrained compared to some other parts of the region.
The Leader, Cllr Dr Hack supported the call on government to confirm that there is adequate funding to meet the necessary extra infrastructure such as transport, water, schools and hospitals.
The Inspector’s report praised the quality of the draft South East Plan and the depth of research and analysis that underpinned it. The South East’s “pioneering approach towards infrastructure and the local authorities’ wishes for an affordable housing target figure of 35 per cent” were especially praised.
The Inspector’s report proposes 32,000 homes to be built in the South East every year until 2026, which is a 10% increase on the 28,900 new homes a year proposed by SEERA (South East England Regional Assembly) though it is understood that the Government wanted a much higher target.
“The inspector highlighted an increase of 19.4% for Reigate & Banstead Borough Council. This increases our housebuilding target from 7,740 homes to 9,240 in the next 20 years.
Council Leader, Dr Lynne Hack said: “Reigate & Banstead has already planned for housing levels of 5,000 new homes until 2016.
“If we meet our own target of 5,000 by 2016 then we should see a significant slow down in housebuilding rates beyond 2016.”
“We note that the Inspector does not favour a major growth between Redhill and Crawley, in the Gatwick region. Rather, the Inspector is recommending a local review of existing Green Belt boundaries around Reigate and Redhill and a very limited review of the area around Salfords and Horley.
“This Council is committed to ensuring that growth is properly planned in sustainable locations and supported by adequate infrastructure.”
The Leader of the Borough Council is calling upon Government and other public agencies to ensure that sufficient funds are allocated to meet these challenges. Cllr Dr Hack said: “I am concerned that the Government’s housing targets could appear to be at odds with the principles of the Green Belt and that the level of development, therefore, could sacrifice the quality of life we enjoy in this area.
Cllr Adam De Save, Executive Member for Planning and Housing, said: “In endorsing Cllr Hack’s comments, I am pleased to see that so much of SEERA’s careful work has been supported by the Inspector. We must now work very hard to ensure that new housing has the right infrastructure and also that the right mix of homes supports the community. It is pleasing to see issues of affordability endorsed by the Inspector."
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