The Department for Communities and Local Government recently published its consultation on the new methodology for determining local housing need, known as objectively assessed housing need. The Government’s consultation runs for 8 weeks, closing on 9 November 2017.
A shortage of new housing nationally is considered to be one of the reasons that owning a home is out of reach for many people, especially amongst the younger generation. The Government is proposing to standardise the way local authorities determine their housing need through a universal methodology which aims to make the assessment straightforward and transparent.
The emerging Poole Local Plan, which was subject to public consultation until 22 September, identifies a housing need of 710 new homes each year until 2033.
Projections undertaken by industry professionals show that the Borough of Poole’s housing need, when considered under the proposed methodology, would increase by approximately 72 dwellings per annum, meaning Borough of Poole’s housing need could be in the region of 782 new homes each year, which represents an increase of 10%.
Whilst it is not clear at this stage how the Government’s proposals for a standardised methodology would impact adopted and emerging Local Plans, it does suggest a direction of travel for housing numbers in Poole. The housing challenges meeting Poole remain significant and the delivery of sustainable strategic sites, such as Canford Park, are an increasingly essential element of the housing strategy.