Political opinion: John Milne MP takes Minister to task for legal limbo
Under a succession of governments, ever-increasing housebuilding targets have provoked controversy across the south east. But as John Milne MP told minister Matthew Pennycook in Parliament last week, Horsham also has to contend with the unique challenges of Water Neutrality. The district has been left in a kind of ‘legal limbo’ which leaves Horsham vulnerable to speculative development applications.
Housebuilding in Horsham District all but ceased following Natural England's September 2021 Water Neutrality statement. This advised that new developments in the Sussex North Water Supply Zone, including most of Horsham District, could not increase water demand above existing levels.
Horsham District Council has in consequence fallen far behind on its compulsory building targets. As Milne put it to the Minister: “It is literally against the law for Horsham to obey the law.”
At the beginning of this month Natural England suddenly reversed its ruling and no longer requires developers to prove Water Neutrality. Milne warns that unless Horsham’s much delayed Local Plan examinations are reopened, this could leave Horsham exposed to unconstrained speculative development, without environmental protections or community infrastructure.
During a parliamentary debate of the Government’s Planning & Infrastructure Bill on Thursday, 13 November, John Milne, Liberal Democrat MP, raised Horsham’s plight, stating: “For the past 4 years, Horsham has been in the ludicrous position of having to obey two totally contradictory laws.
“One law says we have to build circa 1,000 houses a year. The other law says we can’t build any houses at all, if they use extra water.
“This legal nonsense has done huge damage to Horsham District and is set to do even more. The sudden lifting of water neutrality today leaves us exposed to wholly unconstrained development, which will do major damage to our environmental ambitions.”
“It is also impossible to make meaningful plans for new schools, clinics and community services to support the enormous targets we’re going to be forced to build.”
Milne argues that the government is approaching the housing affordability crisis in the wrong way. Simply granting limitless building permissions has not worked. Without some kind of further government action, it is impossible for developers to build enough homes for social rent in high-cost areas like Horsham, no matter how many permissions are granted.
Horsham’s new Local Plan, which would give the council more control over planning strategy, has been delayed many times. It’s important to get the Local Plan hearing restarted as soon as possible and HDC have written to the government-appointed Planning Inspector to request this.
John Milne added: “Complications around water neutrality have prevented a new Local Plan from being passed, thus preventing major new environmental provisions from coming into force.
“Meanwhile, Horsham District Council has been forced to accept a series of applications that contradict its Local Plan, and make a complete nonsense of the strategic, plan-led development the government always professes to support.
“I hope the Planning Inspector reviews Horsham District’s latest submission and evidence, and agrees to reopen examinations as soon as possible.”
To watch John Milne’s speech in parliament visit: https://johnmilne.org.uk/planningbill