Call to reduce targets for Halton homes
DEREK Twigg MP has pressed for answers on whether the Government would be willing to reduce housebuilding targets in areas such as Halton which have high amounts of contaminated land.
Mr Twigg’s questions came against the backdrop of controversial plans to allow the construction of homes on Green Belt in the borough as proposed in a draft Delivery And Allocations Local Plan (DALP) for the borough.
The Labour MP asked whether the Department For Housing, Communities And Local Government had assessed the impact of Government housebuilding targets on the Green Belt, what target the department had set for Halton over the next 15 to 30 years, what Housing Secretary Sajid Javid’s policy was on removing Green Belt and building on Green Belt when the availability of brownfield sites has been reduced by land contamination.
He received a written reply from housing minister Dominic Raab, who said the Government has not prescribed any housebuilding targets, adding that it would be ‘inappropriate’ for him to comment on the plans in Halton while the DALP consultation is under way.
Mr Raab said: “It is for local planning authorities to determine the housing requirement for plans.
“This should be deliverable and take account of land constraints.
“The current approach for local authorities to assess housing need is too complex, costly and lacks transparency.
“This is why we have consulted on a new standard approach, which will provide a transparent and consistent basis for understanding the need for homes in each area. ● “This is not a local housing target. “Assessing need is the starting point in the process, not the end.
“The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that a Green Belt boundary may be altered only in exceptional circumstances, using the plan process.”