Sussex Authorities Welcome Government Housing U-Turn

A controversial housing algorithm has been dropped after uproar from local authorities across the country, particularly in Sussex.

The reforms were widely criticised for bias towards building most new homes in rural areas in the south east of England.

According to countryside charity CPRE, Sussex would have lost an estimated 450 hectares of countryside every year.

Arundel and South Downs MP, Andrew Griffith described the calculations as “mutant” and “entirely blind to geography.”

Both Chichester District Council and Arun District Council have welcomed the news from the government that it will be using a different method, putting more emphasis on delivering homes in larger cities across the country.

Had the original plans gone ahead, housing need in the Chichester Plan area alone would have risen from 634 to 995; and Arun's could have doubled to more than 2,000 properties a year.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick published new plans on Wednesday outlining new measures, such as more homes in urban areas.

Following the consultation launched in the summer, the government said an updated housing need formula will be introduced to help councils deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. Prioritising brownfield sites and urban areas.

Cities will be encouraged to plan for more family homes, making use of vacant buildings and underused land

The government also intends to revise the so-called ‘80/20 rule’ which guides how much funding is available to local areas to help build homes.

Councillor Martin Lury, Arun District Council's Cabinet Member for Planning said:

"A note of caution is still required as the amended proposals will see a significant rise in housing provision figures for the country's top 20 cities.

"This includes Brighton, which is sandwiched between the sea and the South Downs National Park. If Brighton is unable to accommodate all of its future housing requirements it could ask other Councils including Arun to assist."

Last month, the countryside charity CPRE Sussex praised local MPs and people across Sussex for writing hundreds of letters to protest about the new planning changes.

The charity calculated that the algorithm would have seen Sussex required to build the equivalent of a new Crawley every four years.

CPRE Sussex Director, Kia Trainor, said:

“Sussex MPs such as Andrew Griffith have been very active in highlighting the devastating effect of the ‘mutant algorithm’ on the communities and natural environment of Sussex and this hard work is paying off,” says

“We want a system that will deliver the affordable housing and successful places that people need, not one which will undermine local plans and local people and force the loss of green spaces which have been so important for our health and wellbeing this year.”

In September, Chichester District Council asked for the Government to recognise the constraints upon development that the district faces.

They also encouraged the Government to support local democracy through the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan processes, to encourage meaningful community involvement and influence.

Councillor Susan Taylor, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning at Chichester District Council said:

"We really welcome the Government's announcement and are so pleased that they have listened to our concerns on this matter.

"As part of our argument we highlighted the various constraints upon development that we are currently facing and asked them to withdraw their proposals to increase housing numbers within the Chichester Local Plan area.

"This outcome means that our housing need will remain as it was and instead, there will be more emphasis on delivering homes in larger cities across the country. 

"A strong local planning system is an essential component of delivering sustainable development, community cohesion and a healthy environment. The right development, in the right place, has the potential to deliver social equity and sustainable economic growth, as well as meeting our environmental ambitions. The announcement made by the Government will enable this approach to continue.

"We now look forward to continuing to work with our communities to shape our Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans, which will keep decision making locally."

The full statement from the government here.