TWO methods of assessing housing need for the future for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole may be considered for the new Local Plan.

The usual practice it to use what is known as the standard method, based on the Government’s 2014 housing figures.

But Cllr Mike Brooke, who heads the local plan working group, says there can be exceptions to the rule which ought to also be considered. He said the council needs to finish its own housing needs assessment which could then become the starting point for calculating future demand.

Current estimates, using the standard method, put the ‘need’ for the area at around 42,500 homes, up to 9,000 of which may have to be met by neighbouring Dorset Council because the BCP Council area is said not to have enough suitable land to meet the target. The suggestion of so many homes has also already lead to concerns.

Other calculation methods, including the council’s own in-house housing need assessment, may come up with a different figure although it has already taken more than a year and is still not finished.

Cllr Brooke said that all the options available, should be considered, including the council’s own calculations, even if that resulted in further meetings and a delay.

Cllr Margaret Phipps, Commons ward, argued that the council ought to wait for the its own figures report which may be available towards the end of this month.

She said that at the moment the cabinet seemed to want to go with the 2014 standard method and then find the land to match the figure, rather than consider other ways of working out actual demand.

“The opportunity does arise for exceptional circumstances to use an alternative method and that is what we have not explored…we absolutely need to wait for our own housing need assessment which could feed into the local plan before it goes out to consultation,” she said.

The local document will not only look at the total numbers but the different types of properties which might be needed within that.

Cabinet member Cllr Philip Broadhead who heads regeneration, economy and strategic planning for the council, said the authority was ‘pushing back’ against some of the numbers – which may result in an updated figure for housing need for the area. He revealed the council was also considering making a special case to the Secretary of State for the area, or volunteering to become a pilot area.

“No stone is going un-turned in terms of how we battle this, but equally in order to have a solid evidence base we have got to consult on what we have in front of us,” he said.