Agenda item

The Planning Policy Lead Officer presented the Committee with a report outlining the proposed response to Windsor & Maidenhead Borough’s Local Plan 2013-2032 (Regulation 19) Submission Version. The Plan was currently out for consultation for 8 weeks ending on the 26^th August 2017 and the proposed response of Slough Borough Council was summarised. It was highlighted that concerns were previously raised about the way in which the plan had been produced and the failure to comply with the Duty to Co-operate. Slough had previously raised concerns that the RBWM plan did not meet their Objectively Assessed Housing Need, however, this had now been addressed and the plan proposed meeting the need for 14,240 homes. It did not provide any contribution to meeting Slough’s unmet need and there were two small sites for potential southern expansion that the Council would request be bought forward.

The Officer advised that within the Local Plan that insufficient consideration had been made to the provision of affordable housing and that under Policy H03 that there was no mention of housing for rent, that inability or unwillingness to provide housing would have an detrimental impact on Slough; and highly unaffordable homes for purchase. The report also highlighted Slough’s formal request for the site south of Austen Way, Langley to be utilised as a housing development in the borough plan to help meet housing needs in the area, however this had been rejected and there were plans for further discussion regarding the caveats to this proposal. The implications of the gaps within the plan would result in Slough’s highly saturated private rented sector (PRS) being placed under higher demand as the Royal Borough’s residents who were affected by homelessness or were unable to afford homes will inevitably look for housing in the neighbouring boroughs. It was noted that RBWM had agreed commitments on affordable housing and it appeared there would lead to a supplementary Planning Document rather than be included in the Local Plan itself, which the Committee considered unsatisfactory. 

Members highlighted their concerns in relation to the proposed Local Plan and the lack of affordable housing rent provision by the Royal Borough which would in turn place excessive demand pressures on neighbouring boroughs. Members did not feel that it was either equitable nor reasonable for Slough to provide affordable housing options for neighbouring boroughs who were failing to meet the need of their existing residents. Members discussed that there had already been issues with neighbouring boroughs placing families into temporary accommodation within the authority, and those who did not have a duty to be housed would then seek affordable private rentals within Slough as they were effectively priced out of the Royal Borough and surrounding areas. Members felt strongly against the idea of certain boroughs adhering to national policy and guidance and how some authorities were able to avoid delivering on housing priorities for their residents.

Several Members strongly expressed the views that the Royal Borough’s long standing failure to provide affordable homes for rent was unacceptable and had serious impacts on neighbouring boroughs. It was agreed that the response should make this point in the strongest possible terms by not meeting the Duty to Co-operate. Members also discussed the increased congestion and traffic associated with housing growth. 

At the conclusion of the discussions, the Committee recognised the progress in the Royal Borough meeting their own housing needs but that strong representations should be made on affordable housing.

Resolved-  (a) That the proposed representations on the Windsor and    Maidenhead Local Plan (Regulation 19) Submission Version    set out in paragraphs 5.20, 5.24 and 5.43 of the report be     submitted to the Council.

(b) That the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead be    invited to agree a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding     as a way of seeking to resolve outstanding issues   with the    Submission version of the Windsor and Maidenhead    Borough Local Plan.