Issues and Options

I agree

Yes – greater clarity over the precise measures that can be adopted to achieve the government’s 2050 target. It is essential that the council plans appropriate policies to prevent a potential challenge over the Local Plan’s ability to decarbonise the economy. Such a challenge would delay critical development.

Latest government White Paper stresses the need for clear and consistent rules across the county. We suggest it would be prudent to be consistent with national standards and there is no clear local evidence to go beyond that.

Since the consultation was published, the Government has published its White Paper on planning which seeks to reform the system. Within that was a draft version of a new standard methodology for calculating housing requirements. While this formula will be subject to further consultation it showed a decrease in dwellings per annum (dpa) from 1,305 to 1,153. This is a mid-range of the potential dpa figures the Council has produced in the consultation document which were 800 to 1,305. It is considered that the 1,153 would likely form a strong rationale as a minimum housing need rather than the 800 figure in the consultation document. L&Q are working proactively with the Neighbourhood Planning Group and Parish Council of Clapham who have draft allocated L&Q’s site for 500 dwellings and land for a 2-form entry primary school in their Regulation 14 consultation plan. For clarity, Appendix 1 contains a red line location plan showing the site referred to which is west of Milton Road.