Local MP Maria Miller has welcomed the Government change in planning policy to clarify in law that in future all house building targets will be "advisory" not mandatory to enable local planning authorities like Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council to take into account local circumstances in their next local plan.
Maria said,
‘’Now as a result of this change in Government Policy, all housebuilding numbers developed through the Standard Method are an advisory start point rather than a final mandatory target. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council must reflect this new government planning policy in its forthcoming revised local plan due for consultation in January.
“What is more, the new policy from Government makes clear that "exceptional circumstances" in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) can be used to argue for reduced house building in a wider range of circumstances. I have long argued Basingstoke is "exceptional ", it is an outlier when it comes to historic high levels of housebuilding. As the government made clear in their statement they now see the use of exceptional circumstances as a way to better acknowledge the “nuance” between communities and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council must use this new policy to argue for significant reductions in house building on behalf of residents.
"We have seen some of the highest levels of house building for the past two generations and the town and particularly the NHS need time to catch up. The revised NPPF reinforces the fact that "exceptional circumstances" don't just apply to green belt areas, a point that has been used to block the use of this provision in the past by the Borough Council.
“Residents want to see lower levels of house building. Last year the Borough Councillors voted overwhelmingly to reduce house building levels not just build in delay. The new Local Plan must reflect these important changes in Government Policy which have been in consultation for a number of months and therefore should have been part of the Council's planning assumptions."
Exceptional Circumstances are a provision in section 60 of the 2019 NPPF. They were designed to be broadly defined to include whatever issues are deemed to be exceptional based on evidence. Basingstoke has built new homes at double the rate of the rest of the country for 5 decades, something only seen in one other local authority area. The NPPF Consultation underlines the need for the Government to provide additional clarity on "exceptional circumstances", with 71% of respondents agreeing that guidance should be clearer on what constitutes this an exceptional circumstance.
Maria went on to say, " I am pleased that the Minister has agreed at the despatch box that this could be a way forward for Basingstoke."