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Council leader fears new housing targets ‘undeliverable’ as views sought on plan for thousands of homes

By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

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Views are being sought on a plan to build 47,000 new homes across Nottingham and some of the surrounding boroughs – but one council leader fears the targets are “undeliverable”.

In a bid to meet future housing demand and Government orders, four local councils had been working on a plan to make sure they can deliver enough homes by 2041.

A draft of the ‘Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan’ covered the areas of Nottingham City Council, Broxtowe Borough Council, Gedling Borough Council, and Rushcliffe Borough Council.

However, Gedling decided to abandon the plan to “take full control” of its own borough’s developments, deputy leader Cllr Jenny Hollingsworth (Lab) said in February.

Cllr Milan Radulovic (Brox Alliance), leader of Broxtowe Borough Council and chair of the Greater Nottingham Joint Planning Advisory Board, said the news was disappointing and forced the remaining boroughs and city to revisit the plan.

He said he further fears the target for his borough is not realistic.

“It has been an awful lot of work,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“I’m disappointed [with Gedling’s decision, and while I understand it – I do not agree with it.

“Our allocation is higher. It is undeliverable. This plan will only meet the so-called need. What we need to do is build the right types of housing in the right places.

“We need to build more properties that are disabled and dementia-friendly, for example.”

According to plan documents from 2024, the Greater Nottingham region would need to deliver 54,670 homes by 2041.

They were to be distributed with 8,250 delivered in Broxtowe, 8,370 in Gedling, 26,690 in Nottingham and 11,360 in Rushcliffe.

A redrafted plan for 2025 now shows a minimum of 47,600 new homes must be delivered by 2041, distributed with 8,950 in Broxtowe, 26,690 in the city, and 11,960 in Rushcliffe.

Housing targets changed after the Labour Government published its new National Planning Policy Framework in December last year, which increased the mandatory requirement for many councils.

It prompted a rethink of how many homes each council area must deliver.

Gedling Borough Council says that, by withdrawing from the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan, it can ensure Gedling’s full housing need of 609 homes per year is met, compared to the 80 per cent coverage that the previous plan would have achieved.

The council’s updated Local Development Scheme sets out a clear timetable for completing the new plan, with a goal of adoption by late 2027, it says.

In Broxtowe, the plan sets out housing development extensions to existing proposed sites at Toton and Chetwynd Barracks, and land at the former Bennerley coal disposal point.

In Nottingham, a new allocation covering the former Broadmarsh shopping centre, former Maid Marian Way site of Central College, and land to the east of Carrington Street, is included in the plan.

The city’s housing targets were reduced recently from 32,868 under the previous Conservative Government’s calculations to 26,000 under the new plan.

The council at the time said this would have been unachievable.

In Rushcliffe, a new allocation at the former Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, for a mix of uses including energy generation and storage, advanced manufacturing and industrial, offices, and large-scale logistics, is included in the revised plan.

Before the plan is submitted to the Government for independent examination, a public consultation is running for six weeks from March 12 until 5pm on Friday, April 25.

Cllr Jay Hayes, executive member for housing and planning at Nottingham City Council, added: “The publication of the draft Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan is an important step on the way to achieving a new planning framework for Nottingham, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe.

“The policies are aimed at ensuring that new development plays its part in preserving and enhancing our built and natural environment, so that growth benefits our existing and new residents.”