Tell the Government your views by 11.45pm on 1 October

Since 2006, nearly 10,000 new homes have been built in Wokingham Borough, an average of 700 new homes each year.

We believe as a Conservative led Borough Council that we are more than doing our bit to provide the homes people need.

The consultation runs until Thursday 1 October 2020. The consultation document is available to download here.

WBC's response to the questions set out in the consultation document is provided here in Enclosure 1 to this report.

A supporting analysis of key issues is set out below.

1. The proposed revision for calculating local housing need would result in Wokingham Borough’s requirement increasing from the current level of 789 to 1,635 dwellings per annum, a 107% increase.
2. The recommended response draws attention to a number of key flaws with the approach of a standard method, particular with regards to data for Wokingham Borough, and requests government scrap the approach and instead introduce an alternative approach which takes into account a range of factors to establish a robust housing requirement in consultation and engagement with local authorities.
3. Factors should include demography and affordability but also other factors such as infrastructure investment, environmental impacts and proportionality.
4. Household projections and affordability should not be applied without judgement being exercised.
5. The outcome should remain in place for a period of time, and not be amended on an annual basis to enable a genuinely plan-led system.
6. The consultation proposal also include a number of actions that would limited the ability of the council to secure affordable housing. These include requiring a minimum of 25% of all affordable housing units to be First Homes, and moving the threshold at which local authorities can require a contribution towards affordable housing from the current 10 dwellings to 40 or 50 dwellings.

Wokingham Borough Council proposes to formally object to the proposal and at the Individual Member Decision meeting on Tuesday, 22nd September, 2020 3.30 pm Executive Member for Planning and Enforcement Cllr Wayne Smith will consider the WBC response for the government's Changes to the Current Planning System consultation. 

The draft response to the consultation is attached at the foot of this page and  is provided here in Enclosure 1 to this report.

Please also take a look at this leaflet: Fair Play in Housing Consultation leaflet (PDF document) 

Contact your local MP

Email John Redwood MP - john.redwood.mp@parliament.uk  and copy in fairplayinhousing@wokingham.gov.uk

Contact the Secretary of State

Contact the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick using the online form and let us know by emailing fairplayinhousing@wokingham.gov.uk

Respond to the Government consultation online

Take part in the government consultation online. 

Find the online petition

More information and an online petition is available on the Enough is Enough website.