Only build new homes where there is truly a proven need

The Government, very commendably, tells us that it will place the protection of the environment and wildlife at the centre of its policies. In the next breath it tells us that it wants 300,000 houses built each year.

From information now coming forward it seems the distribution and proposed location of these houses bears little relationship to local need or available, suitable, land supply.

It appears the Government’s intention is to flood the housing market and by doing so reduce prices, making them more affordable. Interestingly the Office for National Statistics reports that during the period 2018 -2028 the population in England is estimated to grow by five per cent, in the South East by 4.4 per cent, and in Chichester District by 6.82 per cent which, given our current population in this area, will be an increase of 8,157 people.

We could hazard a rough guess and say that this local population increase would need say an additional 4,000 dwellings over the assessed period.

In addition the ONS says that many areas, including ours, will experience a considerable increase in people over 65, who may well consider downsizing. So, the question is – who are all these thousands of mainly market sale, three and fourbedroom detached houses for? Certainly not for local people.

There is however no doubt that like most areas we need affordable housing for our young people to have a home of their own.

So, if we were to build only affordable and retirement homes, and allow for internal population movement to be catered for by existing properties coming on to the market, could we not truly put the protection of the environment and wildlife at the centre of all we do?

In other words, only build what there is a proven need for, especially given the tremendous damage done by construction including that of attendant infrastructure, and for us locally, reducing the demonstrable harm to the charm, character and setting of our district by unnecessary overdevelopment.