The South West of England saw an increased focus for housing growth following the revised standard method at the end of last year. Regionally, this represents a 42% increase in housing numbers, only overshadowed by increases in the North East and North West (but which in real terms is a significantly lower number).

Cornwall and Wiltshire saw the biggest jumps in housing requirement of all local authorities across England. These two, largely rural, unitary authorities will now have to meet a figure of 4,415 and 3,525 dwellings per annum (dpa) respectively. Cornwall accepts its Local Plan is out-of-date and is awaiting the new Plan-making process to meet its increased needs. Meanwhile, Wiltshire’s Local Plan was submitted in November with a target to deliver 36,740 new homes over 2020-2038 (2,041dpa). Under the transitional arrangements, they will need to undertake an immediate review.

More widely in the South West, Wiltshire is not the only authority at examination, with Bristol City currently in the middle of hearing sessions. Housing supply is at the heart of the issue, with the City standing 26,000 dwellings short of its requirement on a brownfield only approach. Neighbouring North Somerset, who recently completed a consultation to find additional housing sites, will be watching closely.

Another examination came to an early close in March, when the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Local Plan was found unsound in failing to meet the Duty to Co-operate, whilst meeting only 50% of its housing requirement. They will have to go back to the drawing board and produce a new 2024 NPPF-based Plan.

Across the region, many authorities now have an out-of-date Plan due to their lack of five-year housing land supply. There is currently a window of opportunity for promoters to bring forward sites within these areas – in particular Green Belt authorities (including across Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset) that may have previously been positioned as unable to meet their needs in full. These could now be looking at a very different picture in the context of grey belt.

Furthermore, even areas which are more progressed with Local Plans – such as Wiltshire – need to find additional sites in the shorter and medium term as part of an early Local Plan review.

Growth is front and centre of the national agenda, and it seems increasingly so in the South West. With the Government set to intervene where Local Plans are not progressed or targets fail to be met, the clock is ticking for many councils.

Iceni Projects is well placed to help identify opportunities through site finding and developing a strategy to deliver them. Our range of in-house specialisms can also help to support this in light of the Government’s new approach to housing delivery.

Get in touch to find out more.