Appendix G Housing trajectory

Based on the housing trajectory, the Council have delivered 2,458 completions in the period 2011-17. Over this period, there was a requirement for 3,840 homes (based on the annualised housing requirement for 640 homes). This means that there has been a shortfall of 1,382 homes over this period. When this is added to the housing requirement for the next five years this produces a figure of 4,582 homes. With the agreed buffer of 20% this produces a five-year requirement for 5,498 homes. The trajectory however suggests that only 3,797 homes will be delivered over the next five years which results in a shortfall of 1,701 deliverable homes and a five-year land supply of only 3.45 years.

Even if as proposed by the Council, the five-year land supply is assessed against the objectively assessed needs for Harborough in isolation of the unmet needs of neighbouring authorities, (contrary to paragraph 47 of the NPPF), then the requirement over the period 2011-17 would have been for 3,342 homes (based on 557 per annum). This would result in a shortfall of 884 homes to date. With the annualised objectively assessed need for the next five years this would produce a figure of 3,669 homes. Once the agreed buffer of 20% is applied this would produce a five-year requirement for 4,403 homes. The Council have identified a deliverable supply of only 3,797 homes which results in a shortfall of 606 homes and a five-year land supply of only 4.31 years.

Under any approach, it is clear that the Council are unable to demonstrate a five-year land supply and additional deliverable sites will need to be identified within the Local Plan to restore a five-year land supply as required by paragraph 47 of the NPPF.

Policy H1 identifies minimum housing requirements for the Selected Rural Villages, including Bitteswell (a minimum of 30). The fact that these are expressed as minimum requirements is supported as it incorporates a degree of flexibility into the policy. Marrons Planning does have concerns that the housing trajectory at Appendix G would not ensure a 5 year housing land supply on adoption and thinks this should be addressed by the Local Plan prior to submission to the Secretary of State.

Refer to attached document.