18 June 2008
Latest Government housing proposals greeted with disappointment
The latest housing figures for Wealden proposed by the Secretary of State in the South East Plan have been greeted with disappointment by the Council's Cabinet member for Strategic Planning and Housing Delivery, Councillor Roy Galley.
"We consulted widely with residents as we prepare the District's Local Development Framework, and clearly there was great concern about where Government Office of the South East's original 400 new homes a year would go.
"That figure was increased to 480 by an independent panel, and now we’re are being told it is going to be 550 new homes a year, an increase of 37.5 per cent. Two years ago we were expected to allow for 8,000 new homes to be built in Wealden over the next 20 years. This has now been increased to 11,000 new homes.
"With two thirds of the District covered by conservation sites and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this decision can only put unreasonable development pressure on the rest of the District.
"Wealden acknowledges and accepts the urgent need for affordable housing. These Government proposals are not based on any careful research but they can impose these on us. They seem determined to destroy a lovely part of England, a very green and pleasant part, showing a complete lack of understanding of the situation. What is more they are proposing this imposition without any investment in our schools, hospitals, roads and other services. Indeed the opposite is happening: our hospitals are reducing services, for example. They are living in cloud cuckoo-land."
"We will be examining the latest GOSE proposals in detail and discussing them with our partner local authorities as we consider our response."
Wealden District Council and Brighton and Hove are the only local authorities in East Sussex to have their proposed housing figures in the South East Plan increased. Further details of the latest GOSE South East Plan proposals can be found on the GOSE web site.
Responses to GOSE's Proposed Alterations are required by 24 October 2008.
