2 Housing

2 Housing 2.1 National planning policy requires that the district , as a minimum, meets objectively assessed needs for housing (OAN), including any unmet needs from neighbouring authorities. 2.2 With a growing population, an ageing population and future changes in household make-up, the need for housing within Three Rivers continues to be high and is increasing. New development is an important responsibility that we have in order to help ensure that future generations can find homes of their own. 2.3 The new Local Plan is anticipated to be adopted in summer/autumn 2026 in accordance with the Local Development Scheme (December 2024). National policy requires that a Local Plan should plan for a 15-year period following adoption. The new Local Plan period will therefore be 2026 – 2041. 2.4 For the 15-year plan period following adoption of the Local Plan, the Government’s Standard Method for calculating housing needs has been used, which is a figure of 832 dwellings per annum. The Housing Target for the Local Plan will therefore be 12,480 dwellings based on the standard method for calculating local housing need. 2.5 However, taking account of commitments through unimplemented planning permissions, together with a windfall allowance, the residual Housing Target is 10,312 dwellings. This residual Housing Target is to be met via housing site allocations. The council seeks to meet as much of the identified need for housing as possible given the ecological, environmental and policy constraints within the district. 2.6 There is therefore a need to plan for and allocate land for housing in order to meet this housing target. The Housing Allocation Policy is set out below. Housing Allocations 1) Allocated housing sites will be safeguarded for housing development. 2) Sites should be developed at an overall capacity which accords generally with the dwelling capacity given for that site. 3) Proposals for the development of sites should have regard to the phasing strategy for the site, the Housing Supply Policy and the latest monitoring information on housing supply which may result in alteration to the indicative phasing of sites through the Annual Monitoring Report. 4) The earlier release of identified housing sites will only be considered if: a) The Annual Monitoring Report projects that there will not be a five year supply of land for housing; b) The sites can realistically be delivered in the short-term; c) It can be clearly demonstrated that the early release of sites will achieve significant benefits in terms of sustainability and other objectives of the Local Plan; d) It does not unduly impact on other sites coming forward in accordance with the Spatial Strategy. 5) In the case of sites not being required in the plan period sites will be safeguarded for future development beyond the plan period. 2.7 The housing site allocations are shown in site tables below for each settlement area, as listed below: Abbots Langley & Leavesden Bedmond Carpenders Park Chorleywood Croxley Green Garston Hunton Bridge Kings Langley Maple Cross Mill End Oxhey Hall Rickmansworth Sarratt South Oxhey 2.8 The site tables for the housing allocations include the following information: • Site reference, name and map • Site size (ha) • Proposed use(s) • Indicative dwelling capacity • Anticipated phasing • Information on whether the site is greenfield or brownfield land (or mixed) • Information on whether the site is located within the Green Belt or is considered to be grey belt • The main development requirements of the site • Site constraints and other requirements and considerations 2.9 The comments section in the site tables set out site -specific requirements and/or measures that would need to be addressed by future proposals for the sites. It should be noted that these are in addition to matters set out in the detailed policies presented in Part I of the Local Plan document, including requirements relating to affordable housing, sustainable transport provision and biodiversity net gain. The site-specific requirements/measures are not exhaustive but seek to aid future considerations by identifying key constraints and issues which are specific to sites. All future proposals, including allocated sites, would need to comply with the full suite of policies in the Local Plan. 2.10 The housing allocation policies included below provide for a total indic