Issue - decisions

RESOLVED: (i)         That the view of the LDF Working Group in respect of housing demand numbers, which was also endorsed by Council, be supported; namely, that the numbers that central government wishes to see incorporated into the Local Development Framework are deeply flawed, as they fail to recognise that:

·        it will be many years before housing demand will return to pre-recession levels;

·        windfall sites will continue to arise in the City and these will go some way to meeting demand over the next 20 years at least;

·        the City cannot continue to expand at a rate of an additional 850 homes indefinitely as this will fundamentally change the character and setting of York and the surrounding area;

and in addition the density assumptions, for the last 5 years of the plan, fail to recognise the impact that the needs of smaller and single person family units will have on the demand for different types of property.

                        (ii)        That the threat to develop green belt land, particularly in the areas near Huntington and Osbaldwick, which could be a consequence of central government failing to modify its policies, be noted.

(iii)             That, therefore:

a.      The draft LDF Core Strategy Preferred Options document be approved for the purposes of public consultation, subject to being amended to include questions for consultees that address the recommendation of the LDF Working Group, which can be used as evidence to support the challenge to Government on York’s housing targets and the current rules that prohibit the inclusion of ‘windfalls’ in delivering the City’s future housing supply.

b.      Authority be delegated to the Director of City Strategy, in consultation with the Executive Member and Shadow Executive Member for City Strategy, to make any incidental changes to the draft document that are necessary as a result of the recommendations of the LDF Working Group, as endorsed by the Executive.

c.      Authority be delegated to the Director of City Strategy, in consultation with the Executive Member and Shadow Executive Member for City Strategy, to approve the full sustainability to accompany the Preferred Options document consultation.

d.      Authority be delegated to the Director of City Strategy, in consultation with the Executive Member and Shadow Executive Member for City Strategy, to approve a Consultation Strategy and associated documents.

REASON:      In order to address the concerns of residents and Members regarding the protection of green belt land in the City and to enable the Local Development Framework Core Strategy to be progressed to the next stage.