Norfolk told to up its game and build 2,000 more homes a year
Norfolk councils have been told they need to build more than 2,000 extra homes a year as part of the Government’s massive overhaul of planning rules.
It is one of the biggest shake-ups of housing policy in years, which aims to tackle the housing crisis affecting the nation.
South Norfolk Council’s new target of 942 homes a year is similar to the rate it is building homes currently, but Breckland Council will be expected to build 917 a year – up from 625.
It has prompted concerns from senior councillors that the new targets are unachievable.
However, housing minister Matthew Pennycook has warned that authorities which do not comply with the new regulations will be given short shrift and could face the full force of ministerial intervention powers.
Under housing secretary Angela Rayner’s new rules, Norfolk’s district councils are facing steep increases in the number of homes they must build a year.
In total, 6,119 homes are required to be constructed annually across the county.
Other changes to planning rules include councils being banned from blocking upward extensions because they are too high.
Ms Rayner has also said people’s housing needs should be prioritised over newts, signalling she intends to overrule environmental protections if they get in the way of house building.
Speaking about the new changes, Ms Rayner said: “From day one, I have been open and honest about the scale of the housing crisis we have inherited. This mission-led government will not shy away from taking the bold and decisive action needed to fix it for good.
“We cannot shirk responsibility and leave over one million families on housing waiting lists and a generation locked out of home ownership.”
It also comes at a time when people living in Norfolk are becoming frequently annoyed at the number of new homes being built, worrying that roads, schools and doctor surgeries are unable to cope with the increased demand.
The new targets have also frustrated Sam Chapman-Allen, leader of Breckland Council.
“These new targets pose a real challenge,” he said. “We will now need to go back to the drawing board to see how we can meet these stretching new housing numbers.”
Despite the concerns, the Government is determined to see these houses built and is offering a £46 million funding package to help to see the ambition achieved.
As a reader, we know the value you place on trusted local journalism. At the Diss Express we are committed to delivering the very best coverage from our communities, and we can only do this with the support of our readers.
By becoming a subscriber you not only support us in this mission, you also unlock a whole host of benefits, including unlimited access to ad-lite websites and digital editions of all our weekly newspapers. You can find out more about subscriptions here.
Use the promo code KevinHurst to get an annual subscription for less than £25 - we really appreciate your support. Thank you.
