Letter: There Is a Way for the New Housing Target To Be Met

Published on: 16 Dec, 2024
Updated on: 16 Dec, 2024

From Julian Lyon

In response to: Local Party Leaders React to News of New Housing Target for Guildford

There is a solution to the newly imposed housing target staring us in the face.

The average annual housing need was assessed over 19 years from 2015 to 2034 at 562 dwellings per year (dpa).

We have to have a new Local Plan and NPPF says this must be for at least 15 years.

If we carry on at 562 dpa we would provide 8,430 homes in 15 years.

The Government has told us we need to provide 1,170 dpa (17,550 homes in 15 years).

There was an over-allocation in the current Local Plan of 4,022 homes (212 dpa over 15 years).

Together the current rate and the over-allocation leave us 5,098 homes short.

If we all get behind the Shaping Guildford’s Future (SGF) and Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS), this can deliver 5,400 homes in fifteen years.

Guildford Vision Group has been banging this drum for 13 years. Now we can see the wisdom in progressing FAS and SGF – which needs Government support. If they cannot support our NPPF-compliant brownfield first strategy, they need to amend our housing targets.

If we get all get behind this, Paragraph 142 of the new NPPF (obligation to review the Green Belt – again!) should not apply in order to meet any housing shortfall.

Do all our politicians agree to lobby the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Minister, and the EA to deliver FAS, to enable SGF to be fulfilled in a plan period and, therefore, demonstrate we can already meet our housing target?