Government targets to see 4,651 homes built in Lincolnshire
More than 4,000 new homes could be built in Lincolnshire under new Government targets to boost economic growth.
Lincolnshire’s seven district councils are once again being set annual housing targets under the new Government’s plans to reform the planning system in order to improve the country’s prosperity.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has outlined its plans to change the rules governing planning departments and is currently running a consultation on this.
Increasing application fees, broadening the definition of ‘brownfield’ sites while developments on greenbelt land will be expected to deliver social housing, infrastructure and increase access to green space for residents. Planners already have expectations to rule in favour of development but the Government is planning to strengthen this presumption within the new guidance.
South Holland District Council’s annual housing target is increasing from 427 to 573 while South Kesteven’s will jump from 687 to 912 homes. But it is East Lindsey which is seeing the highest increase from 437 to a whooping 1,091 homes.
Boston will be required to build 379 homes, West Lindsey 527, North Kesteven 690 and Lincoln 459. In neighbouring Rutland, the target will increase from 123 to the new annual target of 264.
Leader of South Holland District Council Nick Worth (Con) said the authority was in a good position with the target but highlighted that the Government may have missed a trick when it comes to clamping down on the viability assessments - when developers apply to reduce their contributions to housing, education and the NHS.
Speaking at Wednesday’s full council meeting, Coun Worth said of the changes to housing targets: “All I can say in South Holland, we are above our housing targets and have been for a couple of years and probably better placed than most I suspect.
“There will be a focus on more on councils giving planning permission than developers building out sites that have permission. That is quite an interesting one, I think we are quite good at doing that. More of an issue is around viability and they don’t seem to have picked up on that.”
He also told members that the government is retaining brownfield first approach and is accelerating work on local plans, which are blueprints to set out suitable sites for development. The council has started work on its local plan, members were told.
A statement issued by the council to this website states: “The planning team is now working through this information, which is currently going through consultation before changes to the national planning policy framework are due to be adopted later this year. Until this has been digested and the conclusions shared with councillors, we are not yet in a position to comment further on the draft proposals.”
