By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Fixed targets for new housing are being weakened by the Government to make it easier for Nottinghamshire councils to limit developments if they are not supported by residents.
The existing targets, enforced through Government calculations, will instead be a flexible “starting point” for local politicians.
The change, announced on Tuesday (December 6), is part of one the biggest waves of Government planning reform seen in years.
Councils will still be required to draw up housing plans setting out where new developments will be built in their areas.
But greenbelt protections will be “strengthened” and brownfield land will be prioritised for development.
Councils could also be allowed to submit plans with reduced housing numbers if they can prove their target would damage the character of their area.
Most Nottinghamshire councils have already adopted housing plans for their areas – but others have effectively been preparing to fight the Government over the targets.
Nottingham, Rushcliffe, Gedling and Broxtowe councils are drawing up a separate ‘Greater Nottingham’ plan for housing across the four areas.
Bassetlaw District Council is currently having its own plan – setting out where more than 12,000 homes will be built – examined by Government inspectors.
But Ashfield District Council brought significant changes to its draft plan in response to the Government’s policy changes.
The authority’s housing target requires 8,226 homes to be built between now and 2038.
The Ashfield Independent administration proposed 3,000 homes on Hucknall’s greenbelt at Whyburn Farm and 1,000 at Cauldwell Road, Sutton, to fulfil part of this number.
Just 1,100 homes were available for development on former industrial brownfield land across the district.
However, public backlash to both major settlements led to a rethink of the plan.
The council will now submit a reduced plan without the two developments and will only outline sites for a 10-year period.
The move was put forward to “challenge” the Government over its housing comments.
Councillor Sarah Madigan (Ash Ind), cabinet member for strategic planning, said: “The Government’s reforms validate our decision to put forward a draft plan with a reduced housing number.
“The previous approach would have significantly changed the character of Ashfield.
“As a result of our actions, we’re increasingly confident our amended plan will be accepted by the Government.”
But Cllr Toby Neal (Lab), portfolio holder for housing on Nottingham City Council, believes the reforms pose a “real problem” moving forwards.
“It’s NIMBY-ism at its worst,” he said. “We need to be building houses both private and affordable.
“If that means targets have got to be put in place then so be it. We’re not going to be hitting the numbers needed if there aren’t targets.”
He also believes more money is needed so authorities can build more council-owned social houses and bring down huge waiting lists.
The Labour-run authority has a waiting list of more than 8,000 people, despite being able to provide just hundreds of new homes each year.
Mansfield has a similar picture, with 6,125 people on the district council’s waiting list despite just 286 homes being advertised since April.
However, extra support to help councils build new social housing was not included in the reforms and Cllr Neal says solving the issue “all comes back to money”.
The Local Government Association agrees and has called for councils to be given powers to build 100,000 social homes nationally.
“Social housing supply is not sufficient to meet the current housing demand,” the association added.
Responding, the Government said nearly 600,000 affordable homes have been built since 2010, including 157,000 for social rent.
A Government spokesperson said: “We understand how important social housing is and the Secretary of State has been very clear we must build more social homes.”
The new planning reforms were put forward by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Housing Secretary Michael Gove on Tuesday (December 6).
The Government says the changes reflect the need to build more homes and meet rising demand but only “in the right places with the right infrastructure”.
Residents will be given more say on new plans in their neighbourhoods and local politicians will be granted more power to shape their communities.
“Our planning system is not working as it should,” Mr Gove said.
“If we are to deliver the new homes this country needs, new development must have the support of local communities.”
It follows comments made by senior Government politicians over the summer indicating the reforms were on the horizon.
