To receive a presentation from the Planning Environment and Sustainability Manager.  [Report attached, marked 7]

Contact: Adrian Cooper, Planning Environment and Sustainability Manager.

Tel 01743254601

Adrian Cooper, Planning Policy and Strategy Manager, and Maria Howell and Tim Shrosbee, Planning Policy, were welcomed to the meeting.

The Planning Policy and Strategy Manager reported on the role of the Council in Place Shaping and the need to balance housing and economic growth.  He referred to the report before members (copy attached to the signed minutes) and the pressure the Council was under to deliver the numbers to meet the needs of the Housing Delivery Test, but also to ensure the type of housing was delivered which met the needs of the county.  If focusing simply on numbers, marketability would be the primary consideration, but the Council was charged with place shaping in a balanced way.  It was however, necessary to accept a degree of marketability to deliver numbers, but it was possible to shape outcomes if appropriate evidence was available to demonstrate what was needed.

A Cross Party Housing Delivery Group had been set up by the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing Development to help provide advice on achieving the right balance of employment and housing in the county.  A key issue was the need to foster a working population capable of living locally, evidence was available showing that many employers struggling to recruit as people were not able to afford to live here.

Officers provided a presentation (copy attached to signed minutes) on The Right Home, Right Place initiative which had been designed to gather evidence to inform changes in the Local Plan Review.   This had been designed to help engage more productively with Parishes and demonstrate that Shropshire Council was listening and responding to local need.  More people were beginning to understand what affordable housing meant (different types and tenures) and that Community Led Schemes were a good way for communities to obtain the homes they wanted and where they wanted them. The additional data gathered was also providing useful to registered providers and housing associations who were finding the additional data useful both in terms of need and new sites to look at.  People were starting to use the website as a hub for information.

Following the presentation, Members queried the relationship of this work with Neighbourhood Plans and asked how the Right Home Right Place surveys worked alongside these.  One Member said that some parishes had felt this work had cut across what they were doing already.

Officers acknowledged this issue and explained that time pressure in relation to making the most of grants available from Homes England had meant the survey had been conducted earlier than planned in some parishes.  The survey would help contribute positively to parish plans.  Good information always made it easier to apply a local focus on application of planning policies.  The planning system worked on evidence and providing as much evidence as possible was absolutely crucial.

During discussion, Members identified the need to focus on a drive towards smaller entry level housing but heard there was considerable pressure to deliver numbers in the county otherwise they would be imposed on the county.  The Council was looking to introduce further tools to achieve the outcomes it wanted, so these could be taken into account in as many planning decisions as possible.  A Member referred to a challenge to numbers by CPRE and how these were tied to economic development. 

The Head of Economic Growth reported that work underway at the moment included  looking into the Council becoming involved in housing delivery itself and intervening in the market where the market was not delivering.   

In response to a question it was confirmed that Homepoint data was used in assessing housing need but it was recognised that not everyone would register their need in that way.

A Member referred to the large number of empty houses in Shropshire, some for very long periods of time, and what could be done to address this.   There were government initiatives in place to address this and officers reported that the team with responsibility for this could provide more information or attend a meeting if the Committee wished to add this to the work programme.

In summing up the discussion, the Chair referred to lack of opportunity in small market towns for people to downsize in their local area as retirement housing and bungalows were in such short supply.  He also commented that it made sense to conduct surveys across Place Plan areas as a parish in isolation did not include a bigger picture.  He asked the Portfolio Holder to take away the question that if a housing needs survey showed critical need whether it would become a CIL priority.   He also referred to the stigma around social housing and the many different sorts of housing available including modular housing.   He also asked how Homepoint gave priority to key workers and the committee heard how at the recent Rural Service Network Conference, three examples were provided by the Chair of the English Housing Association, two of which were from Shropshire. 

In conclusion, officers were thanked for the work they were undertaking and for gaining English Housing Association recognition. 

The Chair asked if the Committee would be minded to look into this areas discussed in greater depth in order to help advise and ensure activity fell in line with corporate aspirations.  It was agreed to insert this into the work programme moving forward.