USING EMPLOYMENT LAND IS NOT THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR DEVELOPING NEW HOUSING

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY’S PLANNING COMMITTEE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT LAND for new housing in the South East. This concern follows a recent consultation document ‘Supporting the Delivery of New Housing’ (17 July 2003) by ODPM Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Keith Hill.

The consultation document suggests changing current planning policy for housing development. If it is to go ahead, it will allow local authorities to use land for housing or mixed-use development which is currently allocated to development plans for industrial or commercial use. This could be authorised unless a convincing case for retention can be made.

Regional Planning Committee’s concerns
The Assembly’s Regional Planning Committee supports existing guidance in Planning Policy Guidance 3 (PPG3) to use surplus employment land for housing, however, it opposes ODPM’s suggested changes. The Committee is concerned that there will be a loss of employment land for essential local services and local businesses. To favour housing development on land allocated for industrial and commercial use could adversely affect the business sector, particularly small businesses, and undermine economic development and regeneration plans.

The Committee also raises the issue that using previously developed employment land for housing runs the risk that a larger proportion of future commercial and industrial development will need to be located on greenfield land.

Another concern is that the proposed changes fail to recognise that local circumstances vary. So to create the presumption in favour of release of land for housing development is unbalanced and inappropriate. This is a real concern in rural areas where there is a need to balance the development of land for employment and housing use, particularly if more sustainable communities are to be encouraged.

Councillor Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Regional Planning Committee, argued: "No real problem has been clearly identified to which the proposed change offers a solution, though many problems may actually arise because of this change. For example, the extra responsibility of local authorities to demonstrate that land should not be used for housing could place a significant additional burden on them. Also, the proposed change denies the role of planning to set a long-term framework with a degree of flexibility to cater for a range of eventualities. Therefore, the Regional Planning Committee strongly recommends not altering the Planning Policy Guidance."

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007