Support

Representation ID: 13835

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Living Space Housing Ltd

Living Space support the inclusion of the housing figure as a minimum with the wording of “at least 47,837 net homes”. As per the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), strategic policy-making authorities should establish a housing requirement figure for their whole area. This figure is required to ensure that the identified housing need (and any need arising from Neighbourhood Area) can be met over the plan period1. The Black Country is part of the Greater Birmingham & Black Country Housing Market Area (GB&BCHMA) and it is commonly accepted that there is severe unmet need in both Birmingham and the Black Country. Table 2 within the draft Plan details that the minimum requirement of 47,837 dwellings is the requirement for Black Country alone, with an additional 28,239 dwellings arising through the Duty to Cooperate. Therefore, the Black Country Authorities should be seeking to maximise their housing numbers over the Plan period to ensure that the complete need of 76,076 is met.

Living Space agree that the spatial strategy should focus around delivering the majority of development in the existing urban area, as this will maximise the opportunity for sustainable development.