Struggles persist for Wealden Council in reaching their set objectives
In the picturesque district of Wealden, local authorities are grappling with a growing housing crisis, marked by persistent high homelessness and a shortage of affordable housing. The unique landscape and environmental protections of the area, which encompasses over 53% National Landscape and 7% South Downs National Park, pose additional challenges to delivering affordable housing.
Currently, there are over 3,000 council houses in Wealden, yet 8,400 homes with planning permissions remain unbuilt. This situation has prompted Councillor Rachel Millward and James Partridge, leaders of the Alliance for Wealden (Green and Liberal Democrat), to write to the deputy prime minister and housing minister, expressing their concerns about proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework.
The council leaders argue that the reforms are not feasible for Wealden due to its unique landscape and environmental protections. They contend that the necessary land for building social homes should be acquired at current use value, and the councils must be given the legal freedom and financial means to build social homes at scale.
The leaders' concerns are compounded by the fact that increasing housing numbers has not led to falling prices in the past, and current prices are higher than in 2016. They point out that Wealden is one of more than 100 councils signed up to the 'Securing the Future of Council Housing' campaign, emphasising the need for more social housing in Wealden.
New housing proposals in the Sussex area have faced substantial community objections, related to concerns about wildlife impact, infrastructure strain, and loss of green space. These local objections illustrate the social and political challenges that can delay or limit new housing delivery.
At the national level, the government has committed £39 billion to support new affordable homes and maintain stable rents. The UK’s Affordable Homes Programme 2021–26 is designed to deliver up to 180,000 new affordable homes, including 10% in rural areas like Wealden. However, delays caused by planning processes, funding timelines, and rural versus urban dynamics affect on-the-ground delivery.
Proposed solutions to address these challenges include revising schemes like Wealden’s Letsure Scheme to facilitate access to the private rented sector, increasing the supply of affordable homes through government funding, and balancing development plans with infrastructure and environmental considerations to reduce local opposition. The strategic use of modern methods of construction (MMC) and partnership approaches are also promoted at the national level to accelerate delivery.
Wealden District Council reports a high and sustained number of homelessness applications, with over 450 applications in 2024/25 and increased length of stay in emergency accommodation due to shortages of suitable private rented sector housing. The Council struggles to prevent homelessness effectively because of the shortage of affordable one-bedroom properties and inadequate single room rate allowances, alongside the pressures from the cost-of-living crisis.
An urgent reform of Right to Buy is required, removing current discounts and committing to enable councils to retain 100% of receipts in the longer term. The reforms could require Wealden District Council to build 1,397 dwellings per annum, an increase from the current draft plan's target of 953 dpa.
The council leaders also highlight 14 Biodiversity Opportunity Areas that cover 15% of Wealden, offering opportunities to enhance biodiversity. Wealden has Sites of Specific Scientific Interest that cover almost 10% of the district.
The report suggests that ministers should seriously consider the recommendations made in the campaign ahead of the Autumn Budget. The Housing Revenue Account is under pressure due to increasing costs of debt servicing, unpredictable national rent policy, rising labor, construction, and inflation costs, and the need to balance essential costs.
In summary, Wealden local authorities are grappling with a combination of rising homelessness, limited affordable housing stock, and community resistance, mitigated by increased government funding and evolving housing assistance schemes, but still constrained by systemic planning and market factors.
- In light of the housing crisis and persistent high homelessness in Wealden, Councillor Rachel Millward and James Partridge have penned a letter to the deputy prime minister and housing minister, urging them to reconsider proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, as the unique landscape and environmental protections of Wealden present challenges in acquiring land for building social homes.
- The debate over new housing proposals in Wealden is not just a local issue; it is a matter of general-news significance, as the leaders' concerns about the limitations in delivering affordable housing echo the concerns of more than 100 councils that have signed up to the 'Securing the Future of Council Housing' campaign, emphasizing the need for policy changes in housing, politics, and community development.
