Whilst the Settlement Hierarchy is supported as the most appropriate strategy to deliver growth and rightly identifies Lutterworth as a Key Centre able to deliver growth, an objection is lodged in so far as the policy does not allocate sufficient land to ensure a 5 year housing land supply on adoption. Furthermore, the policy does not boost significantly the supply of housing in accordance with the NPPF.

Trajectory

Based on the Housing Trajectory as shown in Appendix G of the Local Plan, the Council would not have a 5 year housing land supply on adoption. From a base date of 2017, and using the 'Sedgefield' approach, supply would be 4.93 years with a 5% buffer or 4.31 years with a 20% buffer. A base date of 2018 would result in 5.31 years with a 5% buffer or 4.65 years with 20%. Projecting a further year forward to an adoption in 2019 would result in 5.73 years with a 5% buffer and 5.01 years with a 20% buffer. As it stands, due to the Council's record of persistent under delivery against the District's OAN of 557dpa since 2011, it is considered that a 20% buffer is necessary.

Given the above, it is considered both appropriate and necessary for Harborough to allocate further sites that can deliver completions within the first five years. Not only will this ensure choice and competition in the market for land, in accordance with the NPPF, it will also support the Local Plan strategy and existing supply identified in H1. It will also further ensure that the Council can clearly demonstrate the realistic prospect of a 5 year housing supply on adoption of the Plan.

Land South of Lutterworth Road, Lutterworth

Land South of Lutterworth Road, Lutterworth is a site that could help address these issues. The Council's existing evidence base is supportive of development at this site, and further technical work undertaken addresses any remaining potential concerns. The SEELA 2017 identified the site as suitable, available and achievable, however further employment land allocations are not necessary beyond those already identified in the Local Plan. It is in this context that the Plan should consider the relative merits of the site for residential development. HLM consider the site to be suitable, the land is available now and a viable scheme can be delivered. The Illustrative Masterplan submitted with these representations demonstrates how a scheme of up to 90 dwellings could successfully be achieved.

Landscape

The Council's Landscape Character Assessment and Capacity Study for Lutterworth, suggests the landscape capacity for change is medium high for this particular site. Overall, the Council's assessment identified the parcel as one of the most suitable sites in Lutterworth.

The Landscape Assessment concluded that the separation of development from Lutterworth and proximity to M1 meant that commercial or industrial development could be appropriate. It is considered that residential development would be more suitable, given its proximity to residential development to the west, and the highway arrangements that mean the principal access is from the south. The Landscape and Visual Review submitted with these representations demonstrates how the site could be developed, recognising key features, amenity and landscape character.

In addition, the site would be surrounded by existing and committed development on 3 sides, to the north, east and west, and would not draw out the urban form of Lutterworth any further southwards.

Highways

The SEELA 2017 states that the Highway Authority suggests access off Swinford Road to the south of the site is most appropriate and this is the proposed access that HLM is intending to use to secure development. Reference is made in the SEELA to safety concerns as Swinford Road is currently 60mph and pedestrian and cycle access is poor. This year, HLM have undertaken technical work in liaison with the Highway Authority (HA) and Highways England (HE). The HA consider access arrangements to be acceptable in principle. And the HA and HE consider improvements to existing links to the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists acceptable in principle. Furthermore, significant improvements are programmed to the Frank Whittle Roundabout, including for non vehicular users as part of the delivery of the East of Lutterworth SDA. The highways access drawing and technical note on pedestrian crossings options for Lutterworth Road illustrate the progress made to date and how HDC's concerns can be satisfactorily addressed.

Accessibility and Other Mitigation

Land South of Lutterworth Road is in a sustainable location; it has good connectivity to the town centre and key facilities and will be in relative close proximity to the East of Lutterworth SDA. This is demonstrably shown in the submitted 'Site and Its Context' and 'General Connectivity' Plans.

Other mitigation measures, such as those necessary for noise, pollution and ecology can be addressed, and necessary conditions could be imposed to secure these at the planning application stage.

Delivery

HLM is actively preparing a planning application, which will be submitted in the near future. As outlined above, the site's physical constraints and offsite infrastructure requirement can be addressed satisfactorily and quickly. Overall the site is realistically viable and deliverable. Therefore, it is possible that the site in its entirety could contribute towards the Council's 5 year land supply.

Conclusion

Overall, the strategy and policies in the Local Plan and the Council's evidence base should lead to the support for an allocation of Land South of Lutterworth Road. The housing requirement is specified as a minimum figure, the site is within a sustainable location, where further settlement development is acceptable in principle and is suitable, available now and can be delivered in full within 5 years. An allocation will support the delivery of the plan, boost short term supply and allow time for SDAs to be realised.

Finally, it is understood that the Council will be updating the SHLAA prior to the submission of the Local Plan. Land South of Lutterworth Road should be considered in this process, having regard to evidence submitted with these representations and points raised above.