Issue - meetings

To consider agreement of the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan 2023, and publication of the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan 2023 on the Council’s website.

The Committee considered the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan 2023 from the Planning Development Manager. As only 68% of the borough’s housing needs have been delivered over the last three years, the Council was required to produce an Action Plan to identify actions to address under delivery against the housing requirement in the area.

The Committee noted there were a range of reasons, such as increased construction costs, for underdelivery of housing in the borough, however some neighbouring boroughs had exceeded their housing targets. The Committee queried if any of the actions would make a substantial difference in encouraging development to address the housing need. The Planning Development Manager explained the plan was to demonstrate the Council was doing everything it could to attempt to solve the issue. The Committee noted the borough’s assessed need was 618 dwellings per annum and queried if that number could change. The Local Plans Manager explained that number could be changed by the Planning Inspector or Central Government.

The Committee noted that underdelivery of housing also meant there was an underdelivery of affordable housing in the borough, and were advised there was a member/officer working group who were currently exploring options to address this. 

The Committee resolved to

1.    Agree the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan 2023, and

2.    Publish the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan 2023 on the Council’s website.