Sir,

Vulnerable to imposed development if Neighbourhood Plan ‘out-of-date’

Mr and Mrs Hatfield in their letter ‘Neighbourhood plan reviews’ (WSCT June 21) advise that they have received through Mr Jeremy Quin MP an assurance from the Ministry of Housing regarding the Nuthurst Neighbourhood Plan that under the ‘new planning rules’ “Neighbourhood Plans do not have to be reviewed every two years” and that the Nuthurst plan’s policies would not be considered out of date because Horsham District Council “can demonstrate a five year supply of housing”.

However, quoting the Ministry’s advice to Mr Quin, as reported by Mr and Mrs Hatfield, “Neighbourhood Plans can be considered to be out of date if a local planning authority cannot demonstrate a five year supply of housing when the presumption of sustainable development applies”.

Accordingly, under the ’new planning rules’, should HDC be unable to demonstrate the requisite housing supply, Neighbourhood Plans across Horsham District that were more than two years old would be deemed to be out of date.

Communities with ‘out-of-date’ Neighbourhood Plans would therefore be vulnerable to developer-imposed development until such time as they were able to produce an up-to-date plan.

Housing delivery rates are dependent on the health of the wider economy, which continues to be in doubt, and developers will not build more homes than can be sold at an acceptable-to-them profit. They will adjust and if necessary reduce build rates in order to maintain profitably; and Councils are not empowered to compel developers and house-builders to meet targets and housing-supply requirements.

Consequently, HDC’s being able to demonstrate the requisite housing supply throughout the life of its local plan (the HDPF) cannot be assured.

Therefore, as a precaution, communities will need to update their Neighbourhood Plans every two years to protect themselves from developer-imposed development.

Yours faithfully,

Dr R F Smith
Trustee CPRE Sussex