Mid Suffolk District Council (MSDC) will be writing to government setting out what it needs to help build government target housing numbers.
All four political groups unanimously endorsed the motion from Green Party councillors Andrew Stringer and Andy Mellen that government fundamentally misunderstood how the planning system and housing market work, so that easier planning permissions did not necessarily result in more houses being built. Across the UK there were already well over a million homes already permitted but not getting built. Councillors pointed to the developers as the major reason for this shortfall rather than planning delays.
Councillor Stringer, cabinet member for planning, said :
“Our planning team, both staff and committee members, are working well and we have already implemented most of the detailed improvements government ‘streamlining’ is proposing. We have a good record at appeals and the committee works to add value to the proposals it considers. This benefit would be lost if committees were sidelined. Delays often result from applicants being slow to respond to legitimate concerns raised by our statutory consultees, “
Councillor Mellen called for Government to give councils the tools to ensure that homes permitted then got constructed in a phased way to co-ordinate with the provision of infrastructure. This could include council tax on unbuilt homes or penalties for non-completion.
During the debate planning committee members made clear that developers only built homes when it was profitable to do so, keeping house prices buoyant. In particular Councillor Sarah Mansel, chair of planning, explained how prolonged delay between outline approval and detailed consent meant policies and needs changed but the committee was bound by the earlier constraints.
“Government are hypocritical in talking about introducing regional mayor to improve public trust, while wanting to curtail the democracy and accountability provided by committee decisions where local people could see and hear that their concerns were listened to.”
Other points from the debate included further defences of democracy and the view that Committees are the very core of the planning system.
Cllr Matthissen confirmed :
“The Green Party nationally also wants to see 1.5 million homes built during the term of government but says they should match the requirements established by regular surveys showing the most pressing need is for affordable rentals rather than four-bed executive houses for sale.”
In this regard he reminded members of the budget debate a few weeks earlier when it was explained that the housing financial model showed that the council could not add any further homes to its current stock. This prevented MSDC from contributing directly to the government targets.