How many new homes for Mansfield?
Mansfield District Council is asking for people's views on how many new homes should be built across the District over the next 20 years.
Between 20 December and 31 January, people will be asked to choose one of four options they think is right for the District as a target for the number of homes to be built in the coming years. There is also an opportunity as part of this consultation to put forward an alternative suggestion.
The District's target up to 2026 of 10,600 homes, as set out in the East Midlands plan, will need replacing due to Government proposals to abolish these regional plans. This means that the Council needs to set a new target for the next 20 years.
Once set, the housing target will be included in the Council's Core Strategy, which sets out the long term vision, objectives and strategy for future development of the District. When complete, the Core Strategy and the other Local Development documents will provide the planning policy background against which we will determine planning applications and take forward our regeneration programmes and projects.
The options put forward take into account the future demand for housing in Mansfield based on various scenarios and an idea as to the amount of land that would be needed.
Council's are required to set targets for housing growth and are being encouraged by the Government to be 'pro-growth' and 'pro-development', particularly in relation to job creation. An intention to promote a growth agenda is expressed in the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) 2010-2020 produced by the Mansfield Area Strategic Partnership (MASP). The SCS states that a strategy for growth will be pursued for housing and for employment development to provide the basis for economic growth improved quality of life for local people, to attract new jobs as well as provide high quality housing to attract and retain skilled workers.
At a meeting of the Council on 13 December 2011, Councillors selected their favoured option which was the highest option (11,100 new homes between 2011 and 2031 - an average of 555 dwellings per year). However, Councillors stressed that public consultation was important and the views would help to inform their final decision.
Mansfield's Executive Mayor Tony Egginton said: "It is really important people have their say and take part in this consultation. Your views will help us to set the figure for how much new housing is acceptable within our District, therefore determining how Mansfield will develop over the coming years."
People can take part in the consultation by visiting www.mansfield.gov.uk/dwellingrequirement. Information stands will also be held in Mansfield town centre during January - dates will be available on the Council's website soon.
For further information please visit www.mansfield.gov.uk/dwellingrequirement or call Mansfield District Council's Planning Policy team.
The four options are:
- Base level - 4,413 (about 221 new homes being built per year): This option is based upon limiting new dwelling numbers to less than what has been achieved in the past. Forecasting suggests that this level of new homes would not be sufficient to cater for an increase in the resident workforce. However it may help focus house building on previously developed land and would require the least amount of Greenfield development.
- Low level - 5,643 (about 282 new homes being built per year): This option would allow sufficient land for house building to continue at similar levels to that achieved over the last 10 years. However forecasts suggest there would be insufficient housing to provide for an increase in the workforce.
- Medium level - 7,828 (about 391 new homes being built per year): This option is based upon encouraging developers to build approximately 25% more new houses each year. Although it should provide enough new homes for an increase in population, forecasting suggests it may still fall short in terms of allowing enough new homes to be built to cater for an increased workforce.
- High level - 11,100 (about 555 new homes being built per year): This option is based upon encouraging the development industry to almost double house building completions, by releasing much more land for development. Should new houses be built at these levels, forecasting indicates there would be enough to cater for both an increased population and an increased workforce.