Decision details

Matter for Decision:

1.    To agree for the Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply – Main Document and Annex to be published on the Council’s website and subject to public consultation for 4 weeks from 16 September to 14 October 2019. The Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculations have been prepared jointly with South Cambridgeshire District Council.

2.    To agree a Statement of Common Ground with South Cambridgeshire District Council on the Housing Delivery Test, that will be published as an Appendix to the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan for South Cambridgeshire.

Why the decision had to be made (and any alternative options):

In January 2019, the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport agreed that the Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year supply calculations would be agreed by the Executive Member for Planning Policy at Cambridge City Council via a decision outside of a meeting (together with the Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire Council).

The Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces decision(s):

a.    Agreed to the publication of, and consultation on, the Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply – Main Document and Annex;

b.    Agreed the five year housing land supply calculation of 5.3 years for 2019-2024 should be used when making planning decisions from 16 September 2019; and

c.    Approved the Statement of Common Ground with South Cambridgeshire District Council on the Housing Delivery Test, that will be published as an Appendix to the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan for South Cambridgeshire.

Reasons for the decision:

The Greater Cambridge housing trajectory is used by the Councils to calculate their five year housing land supply and to demonstrate that anticipated housing delivery will meet or exceed the housing requirements set out in their Local Plans. The two Councils have an established five year housing land supply until 31 October, as a result of the adoption of the Local Plans in autumn 2018. Ahead of 1 November when the Councils five year housing land supply will no longer be established, the Councils have reviewed and updated their housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculations, which will be used when making decisions from 16 September 2019, and will also be subject to public consultation as required by national planning policy and guidance for Annual Position Statements.

The adopted Local Plan establishes a five year housing land supply until 31 October under national planning policy. A new trajectory is required to establish the five year supply position from that date for the purposes of making planning decisions. In addition, South Cambridgeshire District Council has three planning appeals where the appellants are challenging the Councils’ five year housing land supply and / or the implications of the Housing Delivery Test results. South Cambridgeshire District Council’s statement of case for one of these appeals must be submitted by 17 September 2019, and there are hearings scheduled for autumn 2019. If the Councils’ updated Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year housing land supply calculations are not published before the 17 September, South Cambridgeshire District Council would need to submit its statement of case based on the previously published housing trajectory and five year supply calculations (from November 2017) which were prepared based on the previous definition of a deliverable site, and the Councils are already aware from the appellants’ statements of case that the assumptions made by the Councils’ previously on the deliverability of sites will be challenged through these appeals. By publishing the updated Greater Cambridge housing trajectory and five year supply calculations on 16 September, the Councils will be able to use the most up-to-date information for these appeals.

As a result of the publication of the Housing Delivery Test results in February 2019, South Cambridgeshire District Council is required to publish a Housing Delivery Test Action Plan. As part of the Action Plan, the Councils have agreed a Statement of Common Ground on the Housing Delivery Test.

Scrutiny consideration:

The Chair and Spokesperson of Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee were consulted prior to the action being authorised.

Report:

The Greater Cambridge Housing Trajectory and Five Year Housing Land Supply – Main Document and Annex are attached.

The Housing Delivery Test Action Plan for South Cambridgeshire, including the Statement of Common Ground, is attached.

Conflicts of interest:

None known.

Comments:

No adverse comments were made by the Chair and Spokes within the five day consultation window.