‘Water rules hit housing’ – Crawley Observer – September 4 2024
[Article written by Allan Hambly – Communications Manager – Crawley Borough Council – crawleylive@crawley.gov.uk]
The number of houses built in Crawley has fallen below the annual target for the first time since 2015 due to water neutrality rules which stop development.
The Council traditionally has an enviable record in relation to housebuilding. Since 2015, the number of homes built in Crawley exceeds the Local Plan target by 30 per cent. Of the 1,212 homes built between 2015/16 and 2022/23 , 47 per cent were affordable – seven per cent ahead of the council’s 40 per cent target.
The council’s Authority Monitoring Report, which details average performance against planning policies, shows that the delivery of new housing has dropped below the Local Plan target for the first time since it was launched nine years ago.
In 2022/23, only 190 homes were completed in the town instead of the target of 340. Only 78 affordable homes were built in that year, which is 57 per cent of the annual target.
The single biggest factor has been the imposition of water neutrality by Natural England because of the impact of water extraction on the local environment. This prevents any development or change of use that increases water usage in Crawley. It requires developers, including the council [and “Homes England…the Government’s housing and regeneration agency…acting as master developer at West of Ifield” – Ed] to demonstrate water savings elsewhere before development can progress.
This is one of the reasons why the council unanimously declared a housing emergency in February of this year. This constraint on development, at a time when the need for additional housing in the town has never been higher, is having significant impact on those in greatest need within the town.
The council wrote to the government in March in relation to the housing emergency but has received no response to date.
Councillor Atif Nawaz, Cabinet member for Planning and Economic Development, said: “These figures demonstrate how we have been addressing the lack of housing supply in Crawley. That nearly half of these new homes are affordable as well shows how we are trying to help people affected by the housing emergency.
“However, despite this good record, the water neutrality rules jeopardise further progress and effectively put a stop to the vast majority of potential housebuilding in Crawley”.
LETTER SENT TO CRAWLEY OBSERVER [AND OTHERS] IN RESPONSE TO ‘WATER RULES HIT HOUSING’ – 5/9/24
Dear Editor
As this Water Neutrality article was written by Crawley Borough Council’s Communications Manager [‘Water rules hit housing’, Crawley Observer, Sept 4]. this raises a very serious question as to whether or not the article corresponds to official or unofficial Council policy.
Either way, it is a deeply disturbing read.
Yours sincerely
Richard W. Symonds
The Ifield Society
REPLY BACK FROM CLLR MICHAEL JONES – LEADER OF CRAWLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL – VIA EMAIL [6/9/24]
Jones, Michael
To: Richard W. Symonds
Fri, 6 Sept at 10:33
Dear Richard,
It isn’t really disturbing. Water neutrality is impacting on all development, not everything is about West of Ifield.
The point of the article was to demonstrate until this year that – within Borough boundaries – we have delivered sufficient new housing (and affordable housing) based on the targets set within the Local Plan. This is going to become an increasing problem in achieving with the restrictions going forward, which this does have implications for our existing communities.
I can confirm it doesn’t remotely change CBC’s continuing opposition to the Homes England/HDC proposals.
Regards,
Michael
Dear Michael [Jones]
‘HOMES PLAN BREAKS WATER NEUTRALITY’ – CRAWLEY OBSERVER – LETTERS
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