Agenda item

(Copy attached)

Mr Convery commented that the MP for South Northamptonshire had indicated that the existing methodology for calculating housing figures was to be replaced shortly and that the figures should be derived from the bottom up. He asked what methodology the JPU had used.

Peter Hawkins, Chair of Great Houghton Action Group, broadly welcomed the revised housing figures, however he requested that the policy of Sustainable Urban Extensions (SUEs) be abandoned. He was disappointed that this request previously presented to the Joint Committee in a petition had not been responded to. The housing figures in the report now seemed more realistic which he believed made the idea of SUEs more absurd.

The Head of the JPU commented that the Joint Committee was not being asked to make any policy decisions at this meeting; that would take place on 31 January 2011. He submitted a report that set out recent changes to the planning system, their implications for the preparation and content of the JCS and set out the next stages of the process. He referred to the letter from the Secretary of State dated 6 July 2010 and appended to the report and confirmed that local authorities should continue to produce a JCS, that existing tests of soundness still applied, how housing numbers were to be determined following abolition of the RSS and the need to be able to justify those figures. Further information may become available when the Localism Bill was published in November. He also noted that the Joint Committee had agreed in July that a revised JCS should be presented to it’s meeting on 31 January 2011 and that the evidence base needed to be revised as a consequence of reduced housing numbers.

The Head of the JPU commented that their advice was that there should not be a root and branch review of housing numbers as to do so would mean that the process would have to start from the beginning again and such a delay was unacceptable to everyone. It was clear that the former RSS housing figures were neither achievable or deliverable. The revised figures were based on natural growth, and in turn based on 2008 demographic data  that was now available, and in turn based on what could be delivered.  From population forecasting and labour market testing a figure of 47,000 had been arrived at. Discussions with Daventry District Council had led to the figure being revised upwards to 50,000 to meet their aspiration to grow Daventry Town and regeneration of Daventry Town Centre. He noted that the predictions were that although the number of households would grow, the proportion of those who were economically active would actually reduce. It was expected that a report on the A45 link road would be published in January 2011. Consideration of alternatives for Daventry would be included in the same report.

The Head of the JPU referred to Appendix 3 of the report and noted that the figures set out therein were indicative at this stage and in particular drew attention to the residual figures set out in line F as being those that sites would be needed for, the remainder having either been already built or received permission for.

Councillor Woods commented that there were only two options to deal with an increasing population to either increase densities or grow around the edge of urban areas. It would be inappropriate to limit options at this stage by abandoning SUEs. Northampton was likely to grow naturally from 210,000 now to 245,000 by 2026. Consideration should not be constrained by “achievable and deliverable”. Need also should be considered. If the area became economically  and socially successful then it was likely to draw people to it.

The publication of the Northampton Central Area Action Plan for consultation was welcomed as a major adjunct to the JCS.

County Councillor Brown welcomed the consideration given to the A45 link road and commented that the Isham By pass and the Corby Link Road had been delayed as evidence needed to be reworked.

RESOLVED:        1. That the recent and emerging changes to the planning 

                                 system as a result of the new Government being elected 

                                 in May 2010 be noted.

                             2. That the resultant approach taken to the preparation,

                                 scope and content of the Joint Core Strategy principally

                                 set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report be agreed and that 

                                 it be noted that the annualised housing target  would be 

                                 substantially revised downwards and that the headline RSS housing figure of 62,125 would be replaced with a much reduced figure of around 50,000.