On the back foot for housing negotiation

Developers, on the other hand are businesses, and will understandably want to negotiate the best possible terms for them.

Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) are the means by which councils consider the various development options available to them.

Most councils consider their LDF options with genuine impartiality and, in so doing, encourage a competitive situation between the various development proposals.

Creating and maintaining a competitive situation is one of the basics of good negotiation and, if carried through properly, will greatly improve a council’s prospects of negotiating the best possible infrastructure benefits for its district.

Many councils play their negotiating hand well – but can that be said of Arun?

In leading a “council-led community campaign” against one of its own LDF options (option two – an Eco-Town) Arun effectively, and prematurely, declared its opposition to a new settlement.

If the promoters of urban extensions feel they are now competitors in a one-horse race, then what incentive is there for them to provide adequate infrastructure benefits?

Arun’s negotiating position has been greatly weakened by its lack of impartiality and it will be interesting to see if proposed infrastructure benefits like a Lyminster Bypass actually materialise or whether they are just “window dressing” to be dropped at a later stage.

Tony Dixon

Barons Close

Westergate