Local Politicians React to News of a Judicial Review for Waverley’s Local Plan

Published on: 18 Jul, 2018
Updated on: 19 Jul, 2018

Local party leaders and spokespersons have reacted to yesterday’s news that the Local Plan for Waverley is to be the subject of a Judicial Review. The review may have consequences for Guildford’s own Local plan which has just undergone an examination at a public inquiry.

Guildford Borough Council’s Conservative Leader, Paul Spooner said: “We are still in the process of determining the Guildford Local Plan but I have stated in public that I believe that it is very questionable that Woking has a genuine ‘unmet need’ when 1) they have not carried out a full countryside and greenbelt study of their whole borough to identify suitable sites within the whole of their borough and 2) I understand they are in discussions with MHCLG [Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government] for additional housing in Woking in exchange for additional funding from central government/Homes England.

Cllr Paul Spooner.

“Unfortunately, the JR against Waverley Borough Council is likely to be tested in the courts after Guildford Borough Council [GBC] needs to determine our own Local Plan but I will not be supporting a Local Plan for Guildford that has significant “unmet need” applied by Mr Bore [the planning inspector who examined the submitted Local Plans for Guildford and Waverley].

“Whilst I have always supported achieving our own OAN [Objectively Assessed Need] housing requirement we are also determined to protect the green belt and I view it as unacceptable that we build on our own green belt to protect Woking’s green belt. Minimising harm to our countryside and green belt whilst balancing this against our housing need within our borough is at the core of our council strategy.

“This is my personal position and not necessarily the majority view of councillors.”

Cllr Caroline Reeves

Caroline Reeves, Lib Dem leader of the opposition at GBC said: “The outcome of the CPRE Judicial Review will obviously be of great interest to Guildford, given the implications of the same planning inspector (Jonathan Bore) requesting that Guildford should also meet Woking’s “unmet housing need.”

“The discussion has already started on a site that crosses the Waverley/Guildford boundary on green belt land. The irony is that Woking appears to be happy to build higher and higher on brownfield sites and yet still cannot meet its own need.

Cllr Susan Parker.

Susan Parker, leader of the Guildford Greenbelt Group (GGG) said: “Within GGG we welcome the High Court decision and strongly support CPRE’s initiative.

“Waverley faces many of the same issues as Guildford, and the high housing numbers all relate to the same supposed “housing market area”, as defined by the last combined Strategic Housing Market Assessment.

“Realistically we recognise that housing market areas are not self-contained; that we cannot have an impact on national or even local affordability by building more homes in Guildford; that we should be building the homes that the country needs by using brownfield land in the cities, which is the most sustainable option.

“Sadly the Local Plan process doesn’t allow for proposing this.”

Brian Creese, spokesperson for Guildford labour said: “Guildford Labour supports the decision of the High Court to take the Waverley Local Plan to judicial review, albeit for slightly different reasons from the Campaign to Protect Rural England. One of the problems with the Local Plan/planning inspector approach is that numbers are the only thing that matters.

“To be absolutely clear, Guildford Labour recognises and supports the need for more housing in the borough. But, it needs to be the right sort of housing in the right places. We do not see a need for any more £1 million+ executive homes, but there is a need for genuinely affordable housing for local residents – more starter homes, council and social housing and rental housing which ordinary working families can afford.

“Waverley is already building on three major sites not to mention the likelihood of a new town in Dunsfold. With the building in Alfold and Horsham, it is clear that the transport infrastructure has reached its limit. Getting into and out of Guildford is becoming impossible. Housing targets do not stop traffic jams, or run reliable and affordable bus services to the villages!

“The important aspect of housing development is that it be affordable, properly supported by infrastructure and integrated into current communities. This is far more important than whether or not you hit some arbitrary numbers target.”