Agenda item

The Special Projects Planner introduced a report that sought approval of the Housing Delivery Action Plan.

The Council was required to produce an action plan due to the fact that by providing 86% of identified housing need in the past three years, the Council was deemed to have failed the Housing Delivery Test in the updated National Planning Framework which was to supply 95%.  This was primarily due to a comparatively low number of completions of 524 in 2016/17 compared to a need of 910.  Approximately a third of local authorities had met the revised test and therefore had to agree an Action Plan, which was set out in the Appendix to the report.  The Committee recognised the constraints to providing significant additional housing in Slough and noted that that a high number of permissions had been granted but this did not in itself guarantee supply.

The key actions included continuing to prepare for the review of the Local Plan to increase the supply of housing, to promote the northern expansion within South Bucks, carry out a new “Call for Sites” exercise and promote development where appropriate, including through Slough Urban Renewal.  The actions would be managed and monitored by the planning policy team.  After due consideration, the Committee approved the Housing Delivery Action Plan, subject to any minor changes being made by the Planning Policy Lead Officer prior to publication.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Housing Delivery Action Plan be approved for publication on the Council’s website.

(b)  That delegated powers be given to the Planning Policy Lead Officer to make minor changes to the document before publication.