Housing strategy

SP2 - Housing strategy This strategic policy is supporting Local Plan objectives 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8. SP2: Housing strategy 1. This plan makes provision for 91,287 new homes over the plan period (2024–2045), to meet the housing need of 91,230 (4,344dpa) identified by the standard method, taking account of completions and commitments. The distribution of growth is set out in detail in Appendix E. 2. A housing trajectory is set out in Appendix F demonstrating how this requirement will be delivered over the plan period, including a stepped housing requirement of 2,150 for the years 2024/25-2029/30 and 5,222 for the years 2030/31-2044/45 and anticipated delivery rates for the proposed allocations and NESS sites. The Council will maintain a five-year supply of deliverable housing land (with an appropriate buffer). 3. The Spatial Strategy prioritises: a) brownfield development within existing urban areas for our most sustainable towns and villages as set out within the settlement hierarchy; densities for these sites have been maximised whilst ensuring site design is able to respect the local character. 107 allocations will provide 7,599 new homes. b) strategic growth through new and expanded settlements (NESS); Strategic growth will be at 10 sites identified through the New and Expanded Settlement Study (NESS). These locations have been selected following a comparative assessment of reasonable alternatives, including urban intensification and dispersed growth, and have been identified as the most appropriate locations for accommodating strategic-scale development. They provide opportunities for the coordinated delivery of homes, employment and retail land, transport improvements, community facilities, green infrastructure and other supporting infrastructure necessary to create sustainable communities. These are at the following locations and shown on the policies map: i. Aylesbury North –3,650 new homes within the plan period ii. Beachampton - 3,200 new homes within the plan period iii. Buckingham –2,235 new homes within the plan period iv. Cheddington –3,650 new homes within the plan period v. Haddenham –3,545 new homes within the plan period vi. Princes Risborough –2,895 new homes within the plan period vii. Stoke Mandeville – 1,650 new homes within the plan period. viii. Turweston – 2,890 new homes within the plan period ix. Wing – 1,630 new homes within the plan period x. Winslow – 3,650 new homes within the plan period c) sustainable extensions to settlements in accordance with the settlement hierarchy. Tier 1: Sites adjacent Major Urban Areas, including those outside of Buckinghamshire. i. These are the most sustainable locations and will be the focus for a high proportion of new housing. There are also 10 new greenfield allocations adjacent to Aylesbury and Milton Keynes with 8,600 homes in the plan period (excluding strategic NESS sites) Tier 2: Larger Market/other Towns ii. These settlements provide main centres with all the key services and facilities. There are 7 new greenfield allocations with 266 homes in the plan period (excluding strategic NESS sites) Tier 3: Small Market Towns/other large settlements iii. These settlements have an extensive range of services and facilities but not as many as other places in tiers 1 and 2. There are 24 new greenfield allocations with 6,382 homes in the plan period (excluding strategic NESS sites) Tier 4 – Medium Settlement/Large Villages iv. These settlements have a good range of key service provision and growth will be at a scale in keeping with local character and setting. There are 49 new greenfield allocations with 5,168 homes in the plan period (excluding strategic NESS sites) Tier 5 – Medium/Small villages v. These settlements have some key services, but these are much more limited and growth at these locations will therefore be more limited. There are 28 new greenfield allocations with 1,190 homes in the plan period (excluding strategic NESS sites) Elsewhere in rural areas vi. Elsewhere in rural areas, housing development will be strictly limited. This is likely to be incremental infill development and should be principally in line with Policy HO10 and other relevant policies in the Plan. 5.13 The housing strategy seeks to deliver the Local Plan’s vision and objectives by meeting the current and future housing needs of Buckinghamshire’s residents. Policy SP2 sets out the scale of growth and establishes the spatial strategy for the area. The Council is actively working to help meet the Government’s objective of significantly boosting housing supply and improving the affordability of new homes. 5.14 Policy SP2 seeks to ensure that development is in the most sustainable locations. The amount of development from Brownfield sites within existing urban areas has been the focus for as much growth as possible. Development at these sites minimises the need to travel, optimises sustainable modes of travel and will also help to maintain or deliver facilities and services at these settlements, as well as aligning with the locations of jobs and leisure. Due to the high level of housing need (a 43% increase from the previous standard methodology and a 38% increase in housing stock), a large percentage of the housing need has been met through sites identified in a New and Expanded Settlement Study (NESS), known as NESS sites. 5.15 The NESS locations have been identified as the most appropriate locations for accommodating strategic-scale growth when assessed against reasonable alternatives. Together, they provide opportunities for the coordinated delivery of housing, employment land, community facilities, sustainable transport infrastructure, and green infrastructure. Many also benefit from proximity to existing settlements, railway stations, employment opportunities, and strategic transport corridors. Their scale enables infrastructure and services to be planned and delivered alongside development, supporting the creation of sustainable and well-connected communities. 5.16 The NESS assessment considered a range of environmental, social, economic and infrastructure factors. The 10 selected NESS locations achieved differing overall scores but were identified as suitable and deliverable locations capable of accommodating strategic-scale growth outside the Green Belt. In addition to their development capacity, many offer strong relationships with existing settlements, employment areas, transport networks, and neighbouring growth locations. 5.17 The selection of NESS locations was not based solely on current sustainability performance. The assessment also considered the ability of sites to support long-term sustainable development through the coordinated delivery of infrastructure and services. In several cases, accessibility to services, facilities and public transport can be significantly enhanced through the scale of development proposed. The NESS locations have therefore been selected having regard to both their current characteristics and their ability to evolve into sustainable communities through the provision of schools, healthcare facilities, local centres, employment opportunities, public transport improvements, active travel connections, and other supporting infrastructure. 5.18 Further growth is directed to greenfield sites at settlements in accordance with the settlement hierarchy, where Tier 1 represents the most sustainable locations and Tier 6 the least. Alongside prioritising the most sustainable locations, due regard has been given to the constraints at those settlements and the consequential capacity of suitable sites. This means that some places might be very sustainable but only have low levels of growth. Some of these settlements also have a NESS site or brownfield sites as well as the allocations identified in criteria c in policy SP2, the total growth expected at settlements is set out in the table in appendix E. This approach ensures that growth is appropriately distributed to support the vitality of communities and to meet local housing and sustain community facilities. 5.19 The draft plan was underpinned by seven different strategies approaches for development in certain locations. These seven different strategic approaches are: Approach 1: Brownfield sites within existing towns and villages Approach 2: Growth on the edges of existing main towns Approach 3: New towns Approach 4: Development at Transport Hubs Approach 5: Expansion near key employment areas Approach 6: Limited expansion of villages Approach 7: Expanding urban area on the edge of Buckinghamshire. 5.20 The draft plan set out that it was likely that all strategic approaches will be required to meet the housing need and that has been the case. 5.21 The spatial strategy meets the needs of Buckinghamshire but does not accommodate any unmet needs from elsewhere. The spatial strategy meets the housing requirements without the need to allocate in the Green Belt, whilst only limited development is located within the Chilterns National landscape. Implementation through Development Management Policies 5.22 The delivery of housing through Policy SP2 will be supported by the Development Management policies in Chapter 7, particularly Policies HO1–HO11, which address matters including housing mix, affordable housing, accessible and adaptable housing, self and custom-build housing, houses in multiple occupation, Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation, specialist housing, rural exception sites, windfall development and residential annexes. Residential development proposals will also be expected to comply with other relevant Development Management policies relating to design and placemaking, residential amenity, transport, infrastructure, health and wellbeing, climate change, flood risk, biodiversity, green infrastructure, and the natural and historic environment. Together, these policies ensure that housing growth is delivered in a sustainable, infrastructure-led manner and contributes to the creation of welldesigned, healthy, and resilient communities across Buckinghamshire.