Planning Inspectors have indicated the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) is likely to pass a key stage, allowing it to move forward to formal adoption.
The SWDPR was subject to public examination during hearings in March, which scrutinised the policies and evidence the Plan is based on. A final session takes place in September, after which the independent Inspectors appointed to consider the Plan will release their full report.
The Inspectors have released their initial findings, which confirm, with some changes, that the SWDPR is likely to be found sound and legally compliant. Changes requested by the Inspectors will be put out to consultation in the autumn, after which the Plan can be formally adopted by Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District Councils, strengthening planners’ ability to resist housing development in inappropriate locations.
In their interim letter, the Inspectors recommend, due to changes in housing need calculations, a slight reduction in the number of homes that should be delivered before the Plan ends in 2041, from 21,440 to 18,852.
They express their support for new settlements at Rushwick and Worcestershire Parkway, confirming they are necessary to provide significant housing growth.
But they raise concerns about the ability of the plan to deliver 2,000 new homes on land at Throckmorton by 2041 due to several issues, including land ownership. They acknowledge the site has significant potential for new housing in the future and recommend the land be reclassified from an allocated housing site to an ‘area of local search’ – meaning more work needs to be done before homes can be built there. They have also challenged the proposed use of windfall sites – land that unexpectedly comes forward for housing outside of the official plan.
Doubt is also cast on the delivery of part of the Worcester South urban extension – covering a total of 2,204 homes on land south of Taylors Lane - within the next five years. While it remains an allocation in the Plan, the Inspectors are of the view the outstanding part of the site cannot be considered part of South Worcestershire’s five-year housing land supply.
When combined with proposed changes to windfall sites, the Inspectors believe the Plan would not deliver a five-year land supply on adoption. Having a five-year land supply in place would allow the councils to resist housing development in inappropriate locations. However, despite this, Inspectors say they still feel the Plan is worthy of adoption as it would ‘boost significantly the supply of housing as a whole and will meet the identified need across the plan period.’ They also note the Plan will need to be reviewed shortly after adoption to meet increased housing targets set by the Government.
Cllr David Harrison, Chair of SWDPR Joint Advisory Panel, said: “We’re pleased the Inspectors believe the Plan is likely to be found sound and legally compliant and we look forward to their final report and moving the process forward so we can adopt as soon as possible.”
“We are disappointed with their initial conclusion about the five-year housing land supply. In particular, we do not share the concerns raised about the Worcester South site, which already has outline planning approval, a committed landowner, a selected developer, and positive engagement between all parties and with some areas with detailed planning submitted. We believe the site can make a significant contribution to the three South Worcestershire Councils’ five-year housing land supply, and we will be providing further evidence to the Inspectors about this.”
