A plan led approach is confirmed in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which also provides guidance on the weight that should be afforded to adopted plans and those emerging through the local plan adoption process. The relevant development plan for the purposes of this application comprises the Adopted Joint Core Strategy (Part 1, adopted May 2014) and Housing and Employment Allocations (Part 2, adopted April 2016).

 

The Local Plan, and the housing strategy it sets, is now more than 5 years old and has yet to be reviewed. The most recent Local Development Scheme indicates public consultation on an Emerging Local Plan is due for July 2026 and for adoption in August 2027.

 

The implication is that it no longer provides an up-to-date framework for the delivery of local housing needs, which should now be assessed against the requirements set by the new standard methodology for calculating housing need – that figure being 1,142 new homes a year, against a delivery figure of 441 per year (in 2021). Against this, there is a significant shortfall in housing supply in the district – and the Council can demonstrate less than 3 years of housing supply to meet this identified requirement.

 

Where a local plan is not up to date and there is a shortfall in housing delivery or future supply, planning decisions are made using what is known as a “tilted balance”, applying a presumption in favour of sustainable development – and confirming that planning permission should be granted unless the benefits of doing so would be significantly outweighed by the harm. 

 

The applicant team have discussed the proposals with Officers at the Council, and pre-application discussions are ongoing with other statutory consultees – including County Highways and the Lead Local Flood Authority.