Council's ability to regulate development improves with five year supply
Move ends loophole which meant council was unable to say no to developments otherwise against its own rules.
Politics & local government
Selby District Council has confirmed a five year land supply for new development in the area, which means it now has more influence to shape sustainable development within the district.
Up until recently the local authority had been unable to demonstrate five year’s worth of land available for the delivery of new housing development. Without a five year land supply, the Council wasn’t in a position to reject housing developments in less suitable locations because there were not alternative, and more suitable, sites available.
With a five year supply of land now identified, it means the Council has much more control over where developments can take place in the district. Overall housing in the district is considered as part of the Council’s Core Strategy, which identifies the number of new homes needed in the district between now and 2027 and whereabouts these homes should be. Plan Selby (which is in preparation) will identify specific sites which can accommodate development to 2027. The sites which will be identified are those that have the roads and services such as access to schools and shops needed to support new homes.
Going forward the Council will now be better positioned to defend its decisions if it rejects planning permission on sites which are not in suitable locations or not in line with our strategy.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Crane, explained, “It is great news that the Council are now able to demonstrate a supply of land for housing, just short of the next six years. In the past the authority has been unable to demonstrate an up to date five year housing land supply, which has left our district with difficulties against defending itself from unsustainable development proposals.
“Selby District Council now has more control over where new housing development can take place to meet the needs we know we have in our area. It’s important we manage this carefully, working with the local community , to provide the homes we need but in places we know can accommodate this growth.”