Only city has power to create housing figure
IT is disappointing that the article on 5th Oct predicts that “housebuilding in Coventry could double to 2,676/year with green belt land at greater threat” and results from new Government guide lines.
Cllr Welsh is the Cabinet member for housing and must be aware that the 2011 Localism Bill transferred house planning demand from Central Government in its entirety to local authorities.
Only Coventry has the authority to create a housing demand figure. Central government cannot “force these figures” onto local authorities.
Coventry is also well aware that Central Government figures are a countrywide objective and a guide only and it is up to local authorities to use local knowledge to arrive at a meaningful local plan.
Central Government policy also directs that Green Belt must be protected, so it is only Coventry’s interpretation that this fictitious demand requires the release of yet more Green Belt.
Coventry is well aware that the ACTUAL housing demand published by themselves is running at around 1,000/year for the past eight years and not the 2,120-wildly inflated figure projected by their current local plan.
C.birch, Coventry.
Send Prince George to offer more advice
WE are now getting advice from Prince George, passed on by his father, on climate change.
Last month Prince William took his son to watch grouse hunting so I hope Prince George will make a speech giving his views on that. Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew and Prince William have all attended Davos, the World Economic Forum, to guide world leaders. Could I suggest that they send Prince George to the next one?
P. Graham, Nuneaton.