11 It is that any uplift as a result of market and economic signals should be consistent with principles of sustainable development and should provide a realistic expectation that result in improved housing and economic market signals. On balance taking into account all the information referred to above BDC consider a further 55 dwellings (20% uplift) a year are required. It should be noted that whilst the NPPF states that an LPA should have a clear understanding of its needs, etc (para 159) there is no guidance found in the NPPF or NPPG which states this has to be an explicit number and cannot be a range of numbers. 12 BDC’s response to Market Signals is predicated on all of the housing market area examining the same factors in detail and delivering an equal response. BDC does however remain unclear how market signals affect the HMA housing need figures, and we remain concerned that without similar assessments all authorities housing needs could be questioned, with potential unknown consequences. Furthermore, many of the underlying factors affecting the market are a direct result of the macroeconomic environment. Whilst it is accepted Bromsgrove has a role to ensure the supply of housing is not constrained and that it contributes to the NPPF requirement to significantly boost the supply of housing across England; it is again predicated on external factors that BDC and Planning in general has little control over. 13 In Summary BDC considers the objectively assessed housing need figure to be 6648 dwellings this is generated from the averaged figures from sensitivity scenarios 3a and 3c (5,540 dwellings) with market signals providing an additional 20% uplift (6,648 dwellings). We believe we have followed national guidance and applied a ‘reasonable assumption’ to take into account market signals consistent with the principles of sustainable development to ascertain a more explicit figure as per your request. 14 We hope this additional information provides you with sufficient evidence to allow for the hearing sessions scheduled for the 2nd , 3rd and 4th December to progress without any further delay. Yours sincerely, Mike Dunphy Strategic Planning Manager Bromsgrove District Council
11 It is that any uplift as a result of market and economic signals should be consistent with principles of sustainable development and should provide a realistic expectation that result in improved housing and economic market signals. On balance taking into account all the information referred to above BDC consider a further 55 dwellings (20% uplift) a year are required. It should be noted that whilst the NPPF states that an LPA should have a clear understanding of its needs, etc (para 159) there is no guidance found in the NPPF or NPPG which states this has to be an explicit number and cannot be a range of numbers. 12 BDC’s response to Market Signals is predicated on all of the housing market area examining the same factors in detail and delivering an equal response. BDC does however remain unclear how market signals affect the HMA housing need figures, and we remain concerned that without similar assessments all authorities housing needs could be questioned, with potential unknown consequences. Furthermore, many of the underlying factors affecting the market are a direct result of the macroeconomic environment. Whilst it is accepted Bromsgrove has a role to ensure the supply of housing is not constrained and that it contributes to the NPPF requirement to significantly boost the supply of housing across England; it is again predicated on external factors that BDC and Planning in general has little control over. 13 In Summary BDC considers the objectively assessed housing need figure to be 6648 dwellings this is generated from the averaged figures from sensitivity scenarios 3a and 3c (5,540 dwellings) with market signals providing an additional 20% uplift (6,648 dwellings). We believe we have followed national guidance and applied a ‘reasonable assumption’ to take into account market signals consistent with the principles of sustainable development to ascertain a more explicit figure as per your request. 14 We hope this additional information provides you with sufficient evidence to allow for the hearing sessions scheduled for the 2nd , 3rd and 4th December to progress without any further delay. Yours sincerely, Mike Dunphy Strategic Planning Manager Bromsgrove District Council
Response-to-Inspector-250914.docx