If you have seen the recent release of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) you will know that its aspiration is to favour sustainable development, which is good for the economy, society and the environment.
So is that a reality and is it achievable?
My initial response would be no, but I think there is a supplementary question that needs to be asked: Can we build sustainable developments economically, or, can we build affordable housing and I don’t mean social housing, I mean sustainable housing that’s truly affordable?
This is housing that has low CO2 emissions, high green credentials but just as importantly housing where developers continue to make profits, making it economically sustainable for the industry and affordable to homeowners. I am sure if we were all asked, we would all want to have more green energy options which reduce costs to our monthly budgets!
This is where the challenge arises, green energy solutions are still seen to be expensive and developers in this area are also hit with high labour costs, high material costs and lack of land availability.
Do we think the new proposed Grey belts will help?
If you look at the suggested areas, sadly areas like Wokingham, Windsor & Maidenhead, Bucks, Basingstoke and South Oxfordshire all who are struggling to meet the local housing needs and have very limited Grey belt options; it doesn’t look like its going to improve any time soon.
If you ask me, it doesn’t matter if its Green, Grey or Brown, unless you can make the economics work for the developers and builders, paired with planning authorities working in collaboration with the local need rather than local objectors, we are not going to get close enough to the new numbers.
I have a client who has a small proposal in (insert local authority) and when the Parish Council sat last week, most of the 15 planning applications were objected to!!!
Something has to change, and I would be interested to hear what you (especially all the developers out there) think that might be?
Comments