Regional review of housing is fatally flawed - Robinson

11.00.00am GMT Fri 27th Nov 2009

The East of England review of housing numbers to the year 2031 has been attacked as fatally flawed on all four of the scenarios outlined. Chelmsford Lib Dem Stephen Robinson has stated that jobs (and infrastructure) should drive development not housing targets.

Mr Robinson was responding at the end of the public consultation period into the review of the East of England Plan (see http://is.gd/52E9W). In his submission he stated:-

"To start with housing numbers as the driver of the plan is a fatal flaw. Job creation is a more important target, with housing following - if sustainability is to really mean anything.

"The growth in the number of jobs (including high value jobs) should significantly exceed the number of new houses built each year and infrastructure must be built in advance or at least at the same time. Otherwise we will not create new communities merely dormitories, mainly for people who then work in London.

"This particularly applies to the suggested housing growth for Chelmsford and other areas close to London. Chelmsford already has a daily out-commuting rate higher than any other Essex district apart from Epping Forest.

"It is no good having targets without resources to deliver. It is essential that we have more affordable housing, but this must include a range of ownership types and have the resources to deliver it.

"Chelmsford is already finding it difficult to deliver the current housing targets and the infrastructure projects required for that may not be funded. New housing needs to be built with easy access to frequent and high-quality public transport for short and long distance travel. So even Scenario 1 is not deliverable under current policy.

"The other 'scenarios' that should be considered are (a) what happens if the price of oil rises significantly, which seems likely in the plan period and definite if and when it becomes apparent that we have passed Peak Oil production", and (b) a more appropriate strategy for the other regions of England, to put more development there and resist the over-heating of southern England."