4.3 GD2 Explanation

Paragraph 4.3.4 identifies that as a rule of thumb the housing requirement for a settlement should not normally be exceeded by more than about 10%. Whilst this includes some flexibility, it does not provide sufficient clarity for a decision-taker to conclude whether that rule of thumb should apply in individual circumstances.

If the 10% rule was rigidly applied, this would place a very stringent limit on the number of homes that could be developed in settlements to respond to the district-wide five-year land supply shortfall. Indeed, given the proposed allocations and existing commitments there would be very little opportunity for additional sites to come forward d at the Principal Urban Area, the Sub-Regional Centre, the Key Centres or the Rural Centres to respond to the current five-year land supply shortfall without exceeding this 10% limit..

The application of the 10% limit will therefore be directly contrary to national policy and it will be ineffective in restoring and maintaining a five-year land supply. There is also no justification in support of the 10% limit.

Regarding paragraph 4.3.3, the Lutterworth SDA cannot be considered a sustainable development and meeting NPPF guidelines. There is not evidence to highlight the risk of splitting Lutterworth into two through the M1 causing a divided community, therefore the Policy L1 is not congruent with NPPF. Focus needs to be on improvement of the town centre to demonstrate that the vitality of rural communities can be enabled. The Sustainability Assessment 2015 highlights the significant distance from rail infrastructure.