Comment

Representation ID: 10071

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Richborough Estates

Agent: Fisher German LLP

Emerging policy DM5 requires an element of self-build plots to be provided on all sites other than developments of 1 – 4 dwellings. Land east of Newton Lane, Turvey has the potential to deliver up to 80 dwellings and theoretically, using the current draft policy, would be expected to provide 6 self-build plots.
2.43 There are issues with providing self-build plots within standard open market sites in terms of achieving a comprehensive design and issues with who is responsible for installing utilities (and to what point). There is also the risk that plots will sit undeveloped for long periods of time if they are not sold, whilst the required marketing and viability evidence is gathered in the result that demand is low or non-existent in a location.
2.44 The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Topic Paper (April 2022) identifies that through the current allocations and self-build projections, there is capacity to deliver 644 self-build plots. The Topic Paper also notes that there are currently 90 people on the self-build register. The provision of 644 self-build plots through the Local Plan 2040 is significantly above the current demand.
2.45 The policy should be re-worded to encourage the inclusion of self-build plots rather than require them. In its current form it is too prescriptive and will lead to issues with overall site completion. It will also lead to a significant surplus in the provision of self-build plots for which there is unlikely to be what would need to a 7-fold increase in demand over the plan-period (from 90 to 644). This surplus of self-build plots will lead to the Council using more of their valuable time assessing numerous marketing and viability reports in order to meet the requirements of Policy DM5 to seek to change them to standard market housing plots when it transpires that demand is low.