Minutes:
Mr J Snell asked a question in relation to the briefing paper as follows:
I am aware that Horsham District Council has already planned to provide 200 self build plots in land north of Horsham. That Fareham Borough Council is making provision for no less than 1% of all homes in the new village of Welbourne shall delivered as custom-built plots. Welbourne is located north of the A27 Junction 10 and will provide in the region of 6,000 homes. The demand for plots has been based on evidence provided by Estate Agents who maintain lists of clients seeking plots to build their own homes.
My question is that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee requests the Cabinet to authorise and research in Chichester District to ascertain the demand for self build plots. I suggest this could be done by an article in the Initiatives Magazine, Chichester Observer and by contacting local estate agents.
It is my belief that many residents in the District, working in the Construction Industry would welcome the opportunity to buy a self-build lot at the market price being paid by House builders in West Sussex.
Mrs Grange provided the following response:
We understand that a private members bill passed its last hurdle through parliament last week and awaits royal assent. We understand it will place a duty on local authorities to keep a register of individuals and community groups who have expressed an interest in acquiring land to forward self-build and custom-build projects. It is understood it also intends that Local Authorities should take account of and make provision for the interests of those on such registers in developing their housing initiatives, local plans and carrying out other functions including land disposal and regeneration.
What is not known is the exact wording or the extent and detail of the supporting regulations or guidance, it would therefore be premature to commence setting up a register without knowing the exact detail of the requirement and risk raising expectations which may not be met by the resulting regulations.
The Chair - Mrs Apel added the following:
We can assure the questioner that as soon as the statutory requirements are known we will ensure that the matter is progressed to policy and implemented.
Mr Chaplin commented that community land trusts (CLT’s) had been useful in other parts of the country but would not be a complete solution for housing provision.
Mrs Apel asked whether CLT’s would be an add-on to housing provision. Mrs Grange replied CLT’s are likely to provide a relatively small number of affordable homes in the district. Approximately three parishes had shown interest in developing CLT’s with Kirdford having already set up their own CLT. Mrs Grange explained CLT’s provide a complimentary role in the provision of affordable housing.
Mrs Apel asked if CLT’s could be included in Neighbourhood Plans. Mrs Grange replied that this was an option communities could explore.
Mrs Dignum asked if all parishes had been made aware of CLT’s as a concept. Mrs Grange explained that not all parishes were familiar with the concept but Action in Rural Sussex had provided information and officers would be meeting with Action in Rural Sussex shortly to discuss how further information could be disseminated to the parishes.
Mr Chaplin asked if CDC had turned down rural housing finance from central government. Mrs Grange replied that changes to government policy means that affordable housing contributions can no longer be sought on sites of 10 units or less. However authorities may choose to implement a lower threshold of 5 in rural areas designated under section 157 of the Housing Act 1985, which includes national parks and areas of outstanding national beauty. Although most of Chichester district is designated as rural under the Housing Act 1996 (this act relates to the Right to Acquire of housing association tenants), the rural parishes in the district are not designated as rural under the Housing Act 1985 which relates to the Right to Buy of council tenants. It therefore seems that we are unable to apply the lower threshold which would allow us to require affordable housing contributions in the form of a commuted sum on market sites of 6-10 units. Officers believe this to be an oversight of DCLG and Mr Carvell has written to DCLG requesting that the national planning practice guidance is amended to include reference to the Housing Act 1996 so that the lower threshold can be applied in both stock owning and non-stock owning rural authorities. The South Downs National Park is in the process of adopting the lower threshold.
Mrs Tassell asked if Compton and Marden had not created Neighbourhood Plans due to their location in the South Downs National Park. Mrs Grange explained this was not the case, they have not as yet shown an interest in developing a Neighbourhood Plan.
Mr McAra asked if land would be sold specifically for self-build projects rather than on the open market. Mrs Graves asked where land would be expected to come from as the scheme had not been made clear when many Neighbourhood Plans were produced. Mrs Grange explained there would be three potential sources of land; planning policies requiring a certain percentage as self-build, exception sites for affordable housing and land in public ownership.
RESOLVED
That the role of CLTs and custom/self-build in the delivery of housing be noted.