Ministers demand over housing for West Sussex

Government ministers have swept aside West Sussex opposition and demanded levels of new housebuilding across the county which critics claim are unsustainable.

The government target of 11,300 homes to be built across the Arun district was been condemned by Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert who said the figure would mean 565 homes a year '“ or more than ten every week '“ being built until 2026.

"The government continues to ignore the concerns of local authorities who say that housebuilding on this scale is unsustainable and there is inadequate infrastructure, like roads and schools, to support it," he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I believe that more affordable homes are needed, especially for young people who are struggling to get a foot on the housing ladder, but the government should abandon its approach of imposing top-down targets from Whitehall."

A final version of the South East Plan '“ a regional blueprint for the future '“ has been published by the government, after years of political argument.

This requires West Sussex to provide a total of 74,600 homes by 2026.

The figure compares with 58,000 in the original plan, and the 64,100 recommended by an independent panel.

Countywide requirements are:

* Adur 2,100 homes,

* Arun 11,300,

* Chichester 9,600,

* Crawley 7,500,

* Horsham 13,000,

* Mid Sussex 17,100,

* Worthing 4,000, plus

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

* 10,000 for a Shoreham Harbour 'growth point', although the plan says this could be revised later.

There are proposals to do away with the so-called 'strategic gaps' '“ the green open spaces between built-up areas, preventing them from coalescing.

Arun District Council leader Gillian Brown said: "The government has simply dismissed our objections to these unsustainable figures. It has not taken into consideration any of our arguments with regards to infrastructure and the existing pressures on our already-stretched transport system, schools and health services."

West Sussex County Council leader Henry Smith said it appeared the government had not realised what was happening in the country and the world around.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The housebuilding market has collapsed, and the idea of building 33,000 houses a year in the south east, as if the housing market is as it was five years ago, is absolute nonsense," he declared.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP