‘Cash for Houses’ incentive not welcome in Wealden
Wealden District Council has given a big thumbs down to proposals for new government proposals which would give more money to councils that allowed the most houses to be built.
“I will not let Wealden Council be bribed to take even more houses. Our residents have elected us to preserve our environment,” said Councillor Coltman, Leader of Wealden District Council when the matter was discussed at the Council’s October Cabinet meeting.
The Government proposed Housing and Planning Delivery Grant has been dubbed the ‘cash for houses’ scheme because of incentives which concentrate entirely on how many new homes a planning authority like Wealden is able to deliver.
In response to a consultation to the Department for Communities and Local Government, Wealden District Council has criticised the new proposals for focusing on the number of houses being given planning permission, with no reference to quality, affordability and sustainability.
'Rural areas may not want, or be able to take, significant new development but because of the 'stick and carrot' way the Government grant scheme will be run, they will come under huge pressure to 'take the money,' " said Councillor Keith Whitehead, Cabinet member for Planning and Regeneration.
District planning authorities would also come under pressure to allow housing regardless of whether adequate roads, hospitals and water supplies were in place to service them. The provision of such infrastructure is not within district council control.
The proposed Housing and Planning Delivery Grant would replace the Planning Delivery Grant which rewards planning authorities for how speedily they determine planning applications and for publication of plans for future development.
