HDC’s original timetable envisaged completion and approval of the draft ‘Preferred Strategy’ by early November and the completion of the subsequent public consultation by Christmas. Instead, HDC has decided that “several more weeks” are needed in order to complete the draft document, which will now be debated by Councillors early in the New Year.

Although HDC has yet to make public its housing target for the 20-year plan period to 2031, cabinet members have indicated that they have decided on an annual build rate greater than 600 houses per year.