H1 clause 5c - Houghton on the Hill
Object
Harborough Local Plan 2011-2031, Proposed Submission
Representation ID: 6269
Received: 02/11/2017
Respondent: The Cooperative Estates
Legally compliant? Yes
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? Yes
Policy H1 should identify suitable allocations within each settlement, sufficient to deliver the minimum housing requirement identified in the Local Plan. This would not prevent subsequent Neighhourhood Plans making additional allocations, which are in general conformity with the Local Plan.
Additionally, land at Stretton Lane in Houghton on the Hill should be allocated for up to 36 dwellings. The suitability and deliverability of this site is supported by the Local Plan evidence base.
Policy H1(5c) states that land will be provision to deliver a minimum of 65 dwellings within Houghton on the Hill (in addition to commitments, presumably from the date of adoption). In accordance with representations made by the Co-op in reference to Policy SS1, it is contended that the Local Plan should identify these sites via specific allocations. The benefits of such an approach are explicitly acknowledged at para. 5.1.15. of the Submission Local Plan, which prompts the question as to why the Plan takes a selective approach to allocations.
The justification for the distribution of housing is also ambiguous. Para. 5.1.17 states that the minimum quantum of development apportioned to each settlement is a product of the SHLAA process, relative populations, accessibility and physical constraints. However, the Local Plan should be more specific as to the actual circumstances relevant to each settlement which has determined the distribution of growth rather than vague reference to the elements of the evidence base.
In that regard, the SHLAA (May 2016 Update) concludes that land in which the Co-op has an interest at Stretton Lane, Houghton on the Hill (ref: A/AA/HSG/04) is suitable, available and achievable. Overall, it is assessed as being deliverable (36 dwellings) within 5 years (as defined in the NPPF).
The only other site in Houghton also assessed as being deliverable within five years is Land off Winckley Close (A/HH/HSG/01) for which the Council has recently granted outline planning permission (ref: 17/00212/OUT) for 48 dwellings.
It is also constructive to consider the Houghton on the Hill Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Character Study (April 2016) within the Local Plan evidence base. The Co-op land at Stretton Lane was identified as having a medium landscape capacity, equivalent to the Winckley Close site which benefits from outline planning permission. Mitigation landscaping introduced at Stretton Lane will further support development on this site to help meet the identified minimum need for 65 dwellings in Houghton on the Hill. For these reasons, it is contended that the Local Plan should identify housing allocations in the Rural Centres, including the land at Stretton Lane in Houghton on the Hill.