LOCAL MP SLAMS GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO HOUSING WINDFALLS

4.26.56pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 8th Sep 2007

Winchester MP Mark Oaten has slammed changes to the rules governing housing targets which could lead to the unnecessary development of green field sites.

Under the new rules, local authorities will no longer be able to routinely count housing windfall developments as part of their quota when meeting local building targets. Previously, housing windfalls, which occur where houses are built on land which has not been specifically earmarked for development, were eligible to help local authorities meet their new home targets.

These windfall developments, which are often built on previously developed land such as former factories or created following the subdivision of houses into flats, account for a significant proportion of residential development, and so play a crucial role in avoiding unnecessary development of green field land.

Over the last five years, the 55 District Councils in the South East of England were required to deliver 95,506 dwellings and easily met this target, delivering a total of 103,546. Windfall sites made up 54% of the dwellings.

With windfall developments being the norm rather than the exception, the new rules will mean that Councils will be forced to meet their housing targets through other means, a requirement which is likely to lead to building on green field land.

Commenting, Mark Oaten MP said:

"If the Government goes ahead with these plans the implications for green field land could be catastrophic.

"Councils will be forced to find alternatives to windfall housing to meet their targets, even where windfall developments are sufficient to address local needs.

"This is completely illogical, particularly as windfall sites are the rule rather than exception in terms of residential developments.

"Communities have already had to adjust to new windfall developments, only to be told now that these developments will not count towards local new-build targets. This is an insult to local people and must be addressed urgently.

Martin Tod, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Winchester, added:

"Everyone recognises the need for new housing to address the national shortage, particularly for affordable homes.

"But this new policy will mean even more pressure on green field sites.

"The Government must use common sense and trust councils, local businesses and local people to decide the best way to give us the houses we need without requiring us to build all over the countryside.