23 September 2008
Infrastructure Ignored in Government Housing Plans
Wealden District Council is sending a strong objection to the Secretary of State for Communities highlighting local people's concerns about the increased number of houses the Government wants to be built in the District.
"When the original proposal for 8,000 new homes by 2026 was put forward, we were deeply concerned about the lack of necessary infrastructure to support this number. Now that proposed number has rocketed to 11,000," said Councillor Roy Galley, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning and Housing Delivery.
"Faced with a worsening economic climate, our enquiries to both the highway and water authorities only reveal a growing uncertainty about what infrastructure is likely - if ever - to be built. We cannot have the houses without the roads and sewerage provision they so obviously need."
August's increased housing figures proposed by the Secretary of State have raised particular concerns for the north, centre and south of the District:
- Proposals for 2,500 new houses in East Grinstead, Mid Sussex, would have a dramatic effect on the services in the north west of Wealden, leading to greater road congestion in Forest Row and impacting on the Ashdown Forest. Speaking at September's Cabinet meeting, Councillor Galley described the Secretary of State's assertion that: 'Where development is planned close to administrative boundaries, for example at East Grinstead, neighbouring authorities will take the necessary steps to ensure that essential infrastructure is put in place to support development,' as "an outrageous suggestion".
- The Secretary of State's report also states that Uckfield is free from significant environmental constraints, and therefore suitable for further growth. "This fails to take into account the history of major flooding incidents in the town and its proximity to the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This must not go unchallenged," said Cllr Galley.
- Key elements of the infrastructure needed to support the Government's housing targets for Hailsham and the south of the district now appear less likely to be built: The Highways Agency has told Wealden that its should not place 'undue reliance' on the A27 Wilmington improvements taking place. Wealden 'should look to contingency planning should the scheme be delayed or not delivered within the plan period,' 2006-2026. Southern Water has told Wealden that work on any additional wastewater treatment facility for Hailsham, Polegate and Willingdon is unlikely to take place until after 2015.
"This lack of commitment to the required infrastructure flies in the face of the Government's own requirements that we show that roads and other facilities will be in place to service the new housing ,"said Cllr Galley. "We shall be seeking the support of East Sussex County Council and Eastbourne Borough Council in our bid to persuade the authorities that there must be a definite commitment to make the necessary infrastructure improvements before change can proceed."
Cllr Galley welcomed the Secretary of State's approval for a policy in the south of the District that 40 per cent of new developments should consist of affordable housing but, given the current economic climate, recognised that this might draw yet more funding away from other necessary infrastructure development.
