South West Regional Spatial Strategy debated

The South West Plan is being discussed as the consultation period on the Government's revised proposals draws to a close.

Salisbury MP Robert Key has presented a petition to the Commons on behalf of people living in the city and south Wiltshire.

It states: "Government proposals to impose the building of an additional 12,400 houses on our community will change forever the character of this unique part of rural England's landscape and heritage; has been proposed with inadequate time for proper consultation; is not supported by proposals for new physical or social infrastructure and will result in the loss of prime agricultural land."

However, the Government argues that the South West has a real housing issue as the only region with above average house prices and below average incomes.

A spokesperson for Communities and Local Government said: "The planned level of annual housing growth is just 1.25% of the existing housing stock in the region. Over two thirds of this will be at the region's main urban areas. The Independent Panel found exceptional circumstances for making some alterations to the three green belts in the region to allow for some urban extensions."

Meanwhile, Housing Minister Iain Wright defended the administration's proposed levels of new housing during a Commons adjournment debate on the draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).

He said: "We concluded that slightly higher increases will be needed if the region is to make real progress in tackling affordability and housing supply issues and ensure that housing supply is closely aligned with the likely location of employment opportunities," he said.

"For the past generation or so, there has been a huge imbalance between the demand for, and supply of, housing. As a population, we are ageing, and that problem is not going to go away. We need to address the issue through housing supply, and one way in which we can do so is through the Regional Spatial Strategy."

But backbench MPs from other parties representing constituencies in the region voiced concern.

Liberal Democrat MP Steve Webb, who opened the debate, complained that the exercise had been top down rather than reflecting regional concerns.

He said: "I have no problem with thinking strategically at regional level, provided that the process is democratic, engages people and starts with local communities, rather than being imposed from on high. That is my principal objection."

Webb complained that in his area the Government's housing provision numbers were "way beyond" what was sustainable.

He told the Commons: "South Gloucestershire council said yes to 21,000, on top of the 27,000 over the previous 20 years. The draft regional spatial strategy agreed by the regional assembly came up with 23,000, which encroached on the Green Belt. We objected to that, but it was in the same ballpark. The panel suggested 30,800; and the Secretary of State said 32,800, which was half as many again. The issue is the margin between what the local people believe is sustainable - a number that would meet local needs - and a vast extra development."

Conservative backbencher John Penrose MP who represents Weston-super-Mare, said: "No one locally is arguing for no extra houses. The problem is that the houses being foisted on us are above what is sustainable, above what local people will sign up to and far in advance of what local infrastructure, local transport and local community services will stand."

The consultation period for the South West Plan ends on October 24.

View the consultation here.

Read the Commons Hansard report of the petition presented by Robert Key MP and observations from Secretary of State (6 October, column 11P).

Read the Commons Hansard report of the Regional Spatial Strategy (South West) debate (7 October, column 23 WH).

Planning Portal

16 October 2008