Proposal for essential consultation on Redditch housing growth areas (From Redditch Advertiser)
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Proposal for essential consultation on Redditch housing growth areas
10:40am Sunday 3rd February 2013 in News
PROPOSALS for a public consultation on two new areas of Redditch housing growth that would fall within Bromsgrove district are heading for the borough council’s executive committee.
Councillors on the committee will consider a proposed consultation asking residents for their views on a joint planning proposal with Bromsgrove District Council that identifies two new areas of housing growth contiguous to Redditch but within the administrative boundary of Bromsgrove District in the Foxlydiate and Brockhill areas.
The joint proposal is going before Bromsgrove District Council’s Cabinet on February 6.
There was consultation on the matter in 2010 when the councils undertook a joint consultation, and since then the requirements of the “duty to co-operate” introduced in the Localism Act (2011) have led to the next round of consultation. The consultation is seen as essential for the two councils to be able to progress their Local and District Plans.
Redditch needs around 6,400 dwellings up to 2030, but only has capacity for around 3,000 dwellings within its borders. As councils are required to plan ahead for housing needs, officers from the neighbouring authorities have worked together and identified preferred locations for 3,400 dwellings in Bromsgrove district.
Leader of Redditch Council, Bill Hartnett, said: “It is clear that over the next 20 years we will need more homes for our children and our children’s children to live in. 6,400 more homes by 2030 is what the evidence points to and it’s quite obvious that this would not fit into the boundaries of our small borough. That’s why we have been in discussions with our neighbours and officers have come up with these proposals.
“This next stage of consultation could move the debate forward and I intend to recommend it to the council.”
The council’s executive is expected to be asked at its February 12 meeting to recommend to a vote of full council that the Housing Growth Consultation and its supporting background evidence report, together with a Sustainability Appraisal, are approved for public consultation between February 25 and April 8.
