Comment

Representation ID: 23312

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Redrow Homes Ltd

Agent: Harris Lamb

The supporting text to the policy at paragraph 6.32 acknowledges that building homes that meet the M4(2) standard are more expensive to build than standard housing and that ones that meet the M4(3) standard involve a significantly increased cost. In building houses to these standards the additional cost is not offset by an increased sales value. It is an additional development cost that has the potential to impact on the viability of development. As such, securing adaptable/accessible homes may well have to be offset against other policy requirements such as delivery of affordable homes, provision of open space or payment of other contributions for example.

In relation to self build homes paragraph 6.29 confirms that there are only 153 individuals on the Self Build Register. This is the equivalent to 0.31% of the 47,837 dwellings proposed to be delivered in the Black Country. In light of the numbers of people that are interested in self build we do not see that there is any justification for 5% of larger sites over 100 dwellings to be required to provide self build plots. Indeed, this would result in a significant over supply of such plots that may not be deliverable due to a lack of demand. The self build plot requirements should be removed from the Policy.