New homes in the South West must hit 34,000 (From Bournemouth Echo)

New homes in the South West must hit 34,000

7:00pm Tuesday 1st July 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

FIRST it was 23,000, then it was 28,000. Now it has been suggested that the South West of England should build up to 34,000 new homes every single year.

The campaign to save South East Dorset from over-development has been dealt a blow after it emerged that, at the same time, the government is being advised to increase house-building targets.

According to the National Housing and Planning Advisory Unit, the South West of England should be building between 29,800 and 34,000 homes a year.

But this has incensed local councillors and campaigners, who originally suggested that, with careful planning, the area could just about sustain 23,000 new homes a year.

"You can't build yourself out of a problem, yet that is what we are being asked to do."

Cllr Spencer Flower

They saw their recommendations increased to 28,000 after an Examination in Public and now fear that Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is poised to increase the numbers a second time.

South East Dorset will take more than 11 per cent of the South West's homes allocation so any increase will have a major impact on the area.

Last week, representatives from councils across the region joined together to discuss ways of fighting the proposed house-building targets.

Cllr Spencer Flower, leader of East Dorset District Council, said they were determined to take the fight all the way.

"My guess is that Hazel Blears will come back with more. I'm not optimistic at all but in South East Dorset we will object vehemently against the numbers being suggested," he said.

"You can't build your way out of a problem, yet that is what we are being asked to do."

The Department for Communities and Local Government has already stated it will be considering the advice of the NHPAU when it sets house-building targets for all the different regions.

Stephen Nickell, chair of the NHPAU, said: "This is about acting now in advance of the next upturn. It is about ensuring that plans for new homes to be finalised by 2011 cater effectively for people's legitimate expectations and aspirations."

l Campaigners from Community Action Lytchett Matravers (Calm) will lead a demonstration against the proposals outside the BIC on Thursday.