Weston LibDems challenge Tory housing targets

Proposed government reforms are likely to mean that any new Local Plan for North Somerset won't be published for consultation until 2023.

Earlier this month Michael Gove announced the government's intention to give local communities more say in how Local Plans are made and to reform the rules around national housing targets. We are awaiting a lot of details on the proposed government reforms and a consultation process in the new year, so in the meantime it does not make sense to press ahead as if none of this is happening.

Liberal Democrat councillors have always challenged the government housing target for North Somerset. We are in favour of appropriate and sustainable development to meet local needs. But the nationally imposed targets from the Conservative government that ignore green belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, flood plain and planning for infrastructure have always been wrong.

Our aspirations for any new Local Plan are based upon:

💚 Increasing the supply of affordable homes and to meet the specialist housing needs for our population

💚 To require infrastructure (education, health, transport) to support sustainable new developments and the local economy

💚 To protect the Green Belt as much as possible and maximise use of brownfield sites

💚 To increase energy efficiency requirements in order to address climate change

💚 To protect and if possible enhance the character and setting of our towns and villages

The most important outcome is a plan that is robust, responsive and which can be fully supported, so we will continue to work on the plan, so we are ready to publish a final version for consultation as soon as we are able. For our plan to be as strong as it can be, ready for examination, this is now not likely to be until later in 2023.