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Horsham District Planning Framework
Updated 17.01.2012
The Government has announced changes to the planning
system which controls the way in which land use is
managed and individual planning applications are
considered by local councils.
There are two aspects to the change: the Localism Act
2011 and a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
which the Government published in draft form in 2011.
Under the Localism Act the Government is expected to
remove the South East Plan which currently sets the
annual housing target for Horsham of 650 homes per
year. In future, as part of the new planning system,
Horsham District Council (HDC) will have to determine
for itself what the annual target for new homes should
be over the coming 20 years, and ensure an adequate
supply of land has been identified to accommodate the
necessary development.
The current complex Local Development Framework,
including the core strategy and supplementary
documents, will be replaced by a new succinct Local
Plan which will need to be examined by a Planning
Inspector before approval.
The Government’s consultation on the draft NPPF ended
in October. The Society submitted detailed comments
and were pleased to find that they were substantially
echoed by the Commons Communities and Local Government
Committee. The Government’s response is awaited.
Meanwhile HDC has put on hold its review of its
current core strategy and is instead concentrating on
the key question of the amount of new housing needed
by the District over the coming 20 years. A
consultation document was published on February 2011
and the consultation period ends on 10 April. It seeks
views on four options ranging from 11,800 new homes
(590 per year) to 14,600+ (730+ per year). To put
this in perspective, the huge planned western
expansion to the town – filling the space up to the
A24 and a large area of land south of Broadbridge
Heath – will provide space for only 2,000 new homes.
The Society will be participating in the consultation.
BACKGROUND PAPERS:
Draft
National Planning Policy Framework»
Horsham Society explanatory note»
Horsham Society response
to Draft NPPF»
HDC Consultation Document: How much housing does
Horsham need?» |
