South-east planners demand certainty on housing targets

• Increase image
• View all images

Regional leaders in the South-east have written to the Government over proposals to change targets for new house building into minimum requirements.

The South East England Regional Assembly's planning committee is calling on housing minister Caroline Flint to provide certainty on housing targets so transport, schools, energy and water supplies are not "stretched to breaking point".

Planning committee chairman councillor Moira Gibson said: "A target should be a long term goal not a starting point. Otherwise the South East Plan housing allocations could be significantly exceeded, without the impacts on infrastructure, the environment and the community having been tested."

"Government could be creating unnecessary problems by saying the targets are minimums and not allowing authorities the flexibility to spread housing delivery across a number of years. This will prevent councils planning properly for the future and will create unsustainable developments."

Councillor Jerry Patterson added: "Apart from problems with sustainability, minimum housing targets are unrealistic in a struggling economy. Local authorities can grant planning permission for new homes, but have no control over whether or not the developers ever build them."