Penyard Ward – August/September 2024
The headline policies of our new government are having effects on the way Herefordshire will develop, and over the last 6 weeks or so we have been considering whether or not the headlines will translate into a different direction for public services.
Following the General Election we have received information from the Deputy Prime Minister indicating the Government will bring forward legislation in the parliament period to support universal coverage of strategic planning through ‘Spatial Development Strategies’.
The Government will restore a revised calculation methodology based upon ‘the Standard Method’ for calculating housing targets (this was removed in the Levelling Up Bill by the previous Government in Dec 2023). The revision to the calculation makes the target more ambitious and significantly increases the number of homes required. Councils will be required to review boundaries to release green belt and lower quality of the green belt land (Grey belt) to be brought forward for development if required to meet housing targets. 50% of all homes to be built on green / grey belt are to be affordable.
The UK Government also published a consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system on 30th July 2024. This consultation has come from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Herefordshire Council will be providing a comprehensive response to this consultation once all the wider implications are fully analysed.
The upshot of this for Herefordshire is, that under the nearly completed Local Plan where the Housing growth supply was potentially 16,000 new homes in the county by 2041, the potential under the new government appears to be approximately 27,500 over the same period.
In context Herefordshire currently has around 85,000 houses in total. The impact will be significant by any standards. Our view so far is that without new and costly infrastructure, the county is already stretched and will struggle with this increased demand from the new government. Whether that investment is in additional NHS, hospital, doctor, pharmacy and additional care facilities, to economic drivers for attracting new investment in business and better job prospects, to cultural investment like the new Shirehall library and associated services, to the museum services, to school investment and further education and training and most of all the necessity to have another river crossing and roads, as our current infrastructure is unable to cope.
We are of course working on all of the above, however an unplanned expansion of 50% increase in house building rate per year is I fear something that will prove to be undeliverable.
Capital budget
In July, Cabinet approved the addition of £5m to the capital budget to provide and enable the cabinet to take decisions quickly if and when properties or land become available. We wish to use that funding to take up opportunities to buy land or suitable housing, for example, for those requiring temporary accommodation without delay. Each project will be subject to its own governance, a full business case will be presented for approval where required and compliance with the council’s contract procedure rules as applicable. The overall aim of capital expenditure is to benefit some of our most vulnerable in society, those currently, or at risk of being homeless.
New Waste service
I have previously reported that Herefordshire Council has procured a new waste service for the county. You are probably unaware that this new service started on 1st September and will operate with the previous supplier with little outward change for domestic properties. Some of the new vehicle fleet will be electric vehicles operating in Hereford city.
Section 106 Agreements
These are developer contributions as a result of planning permissions granted. They can become difficult in delivery within the timescale allowed at the risk of funding having to be returned.
These are usually associated with education needs, sport facilities, play areas and highway improvements built into these agreements and can become complex as needs change post development. Steps are being taken to ensure that monies received via Section 106 agreements in Penyard are fully allocated and all cash consumed in good time to ensure non return.
PROW Grants
And finally an update on progress with the PROW grant. Of the £250k that was made available, applications to date total approx. £205k and which would see 576 assets improved across 62 Parish Councils. We have approved 53 applications for a total of £142k to improve 477 assets and successful Parish Councils have been notified.
Seven applications have been queried over labour costs with Parish Councils for a further approx £28k of work and that would see 80 further assets improved. We have provided various options for how these works can be delivered at hopefully lower costs. We are discussing a further 6 applications with Parish Councils that would see a further 19 assets improved for approx £34k. These are applications where initial detail was limited.
I trust that thus update is helpful to you and would be happy to for you to contact me directly via email harry.bramer2@herefordshire.gov.uk or phone on 07900 918384.
Cllr Harry Bramer
Herefordshire Council – Member Penyard Ward
Cabinet Member – Community Services and Assets