Planning for New Housing in Dacorum James Doe, Assistant Director – Planning, Development and Regeneration 20 February 2018

Today National Policy – Housing growth and role of rural housing Dacorum’s response and new Local Plan Accommodating growth in the rural area Neighbourhood Planning

Government Policy – common thread of housing delivery

Government Policy – common thread of housing delivery “The Government has unveiled a raft of measures which it hopes will stimulate the housing market, encourage more developers to build and increase transparency around land ownership” “…the government wants a standardised framework for calculating what needs to be built. Councils that miss their targets may have to surrender control over planning to central government” Sajid Javid sets out fix for ‘broken’ housing market Proposals aim to spur councils and developers to build more quickly

Our Current Local Plan - the Dacorum Core Strategy Adopted 2013 – early review needed Annual target of 430 homes - but considerably less than housing need Area under-delivering at about 400 homes/year Work on New Local Plan has to progress now

Dacorum’s New Local Plan Need to look at: housing need the Green Belt co-operation with neighbouring Councils employment, shopping and infrastructure needs. Need to cover the period up to 2036.

The SHMA identifies an overall housing need (2013-2036) as follows:   Existing housing target per year New housing need per year Percentage increase over existing target Dacorum 430 756 (17,388) 76% Hertsmere 266 599 125% St Albans 360 705 96% Three Rivers 180 514 186% Watford 260 577 122% SW Herts total 1,496 3,151 111%

What do the numbers indicate? Source of Housing provision Upper Government Figure (c1,100/yr) Locally assessed need (756/yr) Draft Government figure (602/yr) Number of homes 25,300 17,400 13,846 Total of presumed housing coming forward* 10, 940 Balance outstanding (which would need to be provided on sites in the Green Belt) 14,360 6,460 2,906

Growth Scenarios for Dacorum Housing growth levels consulted on Draft Government figure, 602/year Locally assessed need, currently 756/year Upper Government figure, c1,100/year Suggested geographic distributions Focus on three towns Greater focus at Hemel Hempstead More Dispersed across Borough

Current infrastructure issues in the Parishes Kings Langley: Library has limited opening hours and will shortly be operated by volunteers. Lack of early morning and late evening bus services Bovingdon: Overall bus service is poor – no service after 6.30pm weekdays and none at all on Sundays. Lack of parking in village centre Little Gaddesden: Bus service constantly under threat. It is essential to have a car to access services and facilities. Tring Rural: Very limited bus service. Heavily reliant on Tring for services / facilities

Next Steps on the Local Plan Analyse consultation responses Liaison with nearby Councils – strategic approach Awaiting new National Planning Policy Framework and confirmed housing need figures for Dacorum – March / April? Prepare draft plan with locations and policies for consultation Timescale to be determined Examination, Modification and Adoption

Planning for new housing in the rural area What the Housing White Paper says… give much stronger support for sites that provide affordable homes for local people highlight the opportunities that neighbourhood plans present for identifying and allocating sites that are suitable for housing, drawing on the knowledge of local communities; identify opportunities for villages to thrive, especially where this would support services and help meet the need to provide homes for local people who currently find it hard to live where they grew up; at least 10% of the sites allocated for residential development in local plans

Where can rural housing go? Large villages excluded from the Green Belt Defined larger villages Countryside generally

Achieving Rural Housing Rural Housing has an important role to play Identifying sites in the Local Plan The Exceptions approach Land outside the ‘village envelope’ For affordable housing only Needs housing need survey Backing of Parish Council Identified Registered Provider

Neighbourhood Planning Dacorum’s first Neighbourhood Plan Unparished area – Neighbourhood Forum had to be established Referendum 15 Feb 2018 77% voted YES

Closing conclusions Unprecedented pressure for new housing growth Need for rural housing is very high Engage with your Council’s Local Plan process Achieving rural housing is hard work Consider exception sites Consider a Neighbourhood Plan

Thank you and questions