Following a 10-week detailed examination last year into the
South West’s long term plan, the Independent Panel who ran the
process has today published its long awaited report which will
shape development in the region over the next 20 years.
The report into the draft Regional Spatial
Strategy (RSS), sets out strategic policies on subjects including
housing, employment and the environment and there are substantial
implications recommended for the Purbeck District. Notably,
the increase in the level of housing provision from 2100 dwellings,
proposed in the draft RSS supported by the District Council, to a
proposed 5150 dwellings to be built by 2026.
The Panel has recommended that the majority of
the additional housing (2750 dwellings) should be located in North
East Purbeck, effectively to the west of Poole/Upton with
implications for areas in and around Upton, Lytchett Matravers and
Lytchett Minster (formerly known as the Western Sector).
This area is currently afforded protection by
Green Belt policy. However, despite objections from the District
Council and local residents, the Panel felt that, in terms of
sustainability, an urban extension in the Green Belt adjacent to
the conurbation was more sustainable than identifying land outside
the Green Belt, which would necessitate commuting into Poole.
In addition to the Western Extension, the Panel has recommended
that the Council find a further 2400 dwellings across the District
(120 dwellings per annum) by 2026. This is an increase of 300
dwellings on the draft RSS figure of 2100 dwellings (105 dwellings
per annum).
The Panel has also increased the targets for
affordable housing from a minimum of 30% to 35%. However, the
District Council will have the flexibility to provide between 35%
and 60% of affordable housing for local people. This would mean
targeting a minimum of 1800 affordable homes in the District by
2026.
Councillor Bill Trite, Leader of the Council,
said
‘Purbeck District Council is extremely
disappointed that, despite its best efforts to demonstrate that the
District cannot accommodate major housing developments, the Panel’s
report into the draft Regional Spatial Strategy is recommending
that the District takes more than double its original housing
numbers.
It is of particular concern that the villages
of Lytchett Matravers and Lytchett Minster will be swamped by a
major new development and that a vast majority of Green Belt will
be lost to concrete. It is my view that the report does not
demonstrate that the so-called “Western Extension” is viable, as
there is still much work to do on transport infrastructure and
nature conservation’.
Next Steps
Representations are not invited upon the Panel
Report. The Secretary of State will consider the Panel report and
representations previously submitted and aim to publish her
proposed changes in Spring 2008. There will then be a 12 week
period of public consultation, where representations from
organisations and the public will be invited. Following
consideration of these representations the Secretary of State is
expecting to publish the final RSS in Autumn 2008.
Implications for District
Meanwhile the District Council will continue
preparing its Core Strategy, which must conform with the
Regional Spatial Strategy. The current timetable for preparing
Preferred Options for the Core Strategy, due for consultation in
Spring 2008, has had to be delayed in order to fully explore all
possible housing options through the Strategic Housing Land
Availability Assessment work that is currently being carried out.
This would have the benefit of allowing the Core Strategy to fall
in line with the latter stages of the RSS. The District Council is
expecting to re-submit a new Local Development Scheme setting out
the revised consultation timetable in the Spring.