Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal

Object

Representation ID: 13733

Received: 02/05/2025

Respondent: Richborough

Agent: Boyer Planning Ltd

The Council have opted to pursue a combination of the low (A) and medium (B) growth option as HDC are only providing for Leicester City’s unmet need for the first 16 years of the plan. We consider this is not justified in accordance with the NPPF’s test of soundness and is not a scenario which was previously assessed as part of the SA and therefore is not an appropriate strategy.
We consider given the increase in housing requirement as a result of the new standard method (December 2024) and to accord with the transitional arrangements the high growth scenario needs to be pursued.
Overall, although it is welcomed that HDC have considered a more proportional approach to housing distribution we consider this could go further in order to support growth at all scales of the settlement hierarchy. We also consider an appropriate buffer and higher growth scenario need to be implemented in order to ensure the soundness of the Plan.