Last week, the Government announced plans to change the National Planning Policy Framework – the rules that guide planning decisions in England. One of these changes will require Councils to plan for a specific number of houses to be built each year.
The Government is now consulting with all Councils that have a responsibility for planning and Bassetlaw will be providing a detailed response.
Following the launch of this consultation, some figures have been circulated on social media that show Bassetlaw could be expected to significantly increase the number of homes that are built here each year.
We’d like to provide some context to these numbers.
Under the Government’s proposals, Bassetlaw could be expected to make decisions that would see 665 homes built per year. By way of context, we are already delivering the Government’s proposed targets.
The proposals also say that the Government will be looking more closely at Councils that do not have an up-to-date Local Plan.
Bassetlaw has a recently adopted Local Plan that aims to deliver 540 homes per year, over the next five years, on sites that have already been identified. This includes affordable housing and housing for older people.
The ambitious Bassetlaw Local Plan shows that we have planned to deliver enough housing in our district over this time and the guidance we have received suggests that these figures can still be used. Because of our Local Plan, we are in a strong position to resist inappropriate speculative development.
The Local Plan will also ensure that infrastructure is delivered, such as health care facilities, junction improvements and additional school places and buildings, and is paid for by the developers who build houses. This is called Section 106 payments.
Cllr Steve Scotthorne
Cabinet Member for Identity and Place
Last Updated on Monday, August 5, 2024