Lewes officials claim government-set housing targets “cannot be met”
The district council is expected to say its own building targets fall well short of government requirements
Lewes District Council has said its government-set housing targets “cannot be met”, as the authority prepares to go out to consultation on the next stage of its local plan.
At a meeting next month, the council’s cabinet is due to consider putting the latest part of its draft local plan — known as the “preferred options document” — out to public consultation.
According to meeting papers, the council expects the final local plan will set out a route to 4,200 new homes being built in the district over the next 20 years. This comes to around 210 new homes being built each year.
This figure falls well short of government housing targets, which require between 396 to 602 homes to be built each year, depending on what methodology is being used. Officers say these figures “cannot be met” due to the “constrained” nature of the district’s land supply.
In a statement released alongside publication of papers for the meeting, council leader Zoe Nicholson (Green) said: “We have always known that the government’s housing target is completely at odds with the reality on the ground in the district. It was never achievable and our officers, following a meticulous assessment of all the evidence gathered, have now shown that beyond any doubt.
“We have always accepted the need for more housing and I’m very proud that unlike many councils we have built affordable homes, but all development must be sustainable.
“Residents will soon have their say as we look to find appropriate locations for achievable levels of new housing — these properties would be in addition to the approximately 5,000 homes already in the pipeline.
“The evidence gathered so far shows that we can only deliver a maximum of 210 homes a year and we need the public to join in this latest consultation so that we can keep the pressure on the government not to impose their higher targets on our district.”
The council says its 4,200 figure comes from assessment of all the potential developments put forward as part of its call for sites process in 2020. Officers note these include some sites which may prove to be undeliverable upon further assessment.
Notably, these sites do not include a much-discussed potential development at North Barnes Farm. These proposals had been for a new market town, but have been assessed as ‘unsuitable’ by council officers.
None of the sites are within the South Downs National Park, as this area is excluded from Lewes District Council’s planning control.
The council is urging residents to share their views in the upcoming consultation, with political leaders saying it will add weight to the council’s argument.
The council has already received more than 42,000 representations from residents and organisations following the previous round of consultations.
Labour councillor Laurence O’Connor, cabinet member for planning, said: “We want a plan that helps our residents, young and old, find lifelong homes where they chose to live, not where they are currently forced to live, often due to prohibitively high house prices. Our evidence shows that we need more smaller homes in the district that are truly affordable.
“The unprecedented volume of responses during the first public consultation was an example of excellent public engagement, but residents really must get involved in the process again.
“The comments we received were vital to help us get to this stage and we need the community to continue to have their say, so the voice of the people is heard when we come to agree our plan with the planning inspector.”
If approved by cabinet, the consultation exercise is expected to run until February 2024.