Council Face Challenges Reaching Established Goals in Wealden
Reforms to National Planning Policy Framework Spark Controversy in Wealden
New proposals for reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) have sparked concerns among council leaders in Wealden. The proposed changes aim to increase housing delivery across the country, potentially adding 229,000 to 280,000 homes over four years [1][5].
The government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill is part of this strategy, designed to streamline decision-making by allowing professional planners greater discretion and reserving elected councillors' involvement for major or controversial cases [5]. This approach is intended to accelerate housing development without removing public objection rights.
The reforms are poised to alleviate local housing pressures by increasing supply, a move that could potentially ease the housing crisis in Wealden [1][5]. However, the specific impact on Wealden will depend on how these reforms are implemented at the district level and how they interact with local planning policies and environmental considerations.
The reforms focus on balancing housing growth with quality and environmental standards. Clearer planning standards for apartments and biodiversity net gain rules are among the measures aimed at ensuring that increasing housing supply does not compromise environmental protections or housing standards [2][3]. This is particularly important in Wealden, which has strong local environmental and community interests influencing planning decisions and housing delivery.
Council leaders in Wealden have expressed concerns about the proposed reforms, highlighting the need for more social housing in the district [6]. They argue that increasing housing numbers has not led to falling prices, as the average price of a home in the south east has risen significantly from the early 1990s to the present day [7].
The leaders of the Alliance for Wealden, including Councillor Rachel Millward and James Partridge, have written to Angela Rayner and Matthew Pennycook, the deputy prime minister and housing minister, respectively [8]. They have emphasized the need for an urgent reform of Right to Buy, removing the discounts currently offered and committing to enable councils to retain 100% of receipts in the longer term [9].
The leaders also advocate for giving councils the legal freedom and financial means to build social homes at scale [10]. They argue that the current rate of house building is not sustainable due to factors such as soaring costs of building safety, Decent Homes, decarbonisation, and increased regulation [11].
The proposed reforms could require Wealden District Council to build 1,397 dwellings per annum [12]. However, there are currently 8,400 homes in Wealden with planning permission that remain unbuilt [13]. The leaders of the Alliance for Wealden also advocate for enabling councils to acquire land at current use value [14].
The council's draft Wealden Local Plan, published in March 2024, outlines that Wealden would be able to deliver 953 dpa [15]. The leaders of the Alliance for Wealden urge ministers to consider the recommendations made in the report ahead of the Autumn Budget [16].
Wealden is experiencing a rise in the pressures on housing services and the demand for temporary accommodation [17]. The specific landscape of Wealden, including National Landscape, protected sites like Pevensey Levels and Ashdown Forest, Sites of Specific Scientific Interest, and the South Downs National Park, make it difficult to meet the proposed housing targets [18].
Historically, 4.4 million new social rented homes were delivered between 1946 and 1980, mostly by local councils [19]. The Housing Revenue Account of Wealden is under pressure due to increasing costs, unpredictable national rent policy, and the need to balance essential costs [20].
Wealden is one of more than 100 councils signed up to the 'Securing the Future of Council Housing' campaign [21]. The council leaders' concerns underscore the complexities of balancing housing needs, environmental protections, and local considerations in the context of national reforms.
- The proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework have sparked concerns within Wealden's community, particularly regarding the need for increased social housing in the district.
- In the context of national reforms aimed at increasing housing delivery, such as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the concerns of Wealden's council leaders extend to the need for an urgent reform of the Right to Buy policy and the legal freedom and financial means for councils to build more social homes.
