The Future of Housing Supply 2017 Using planning to deliver Tim Hill Chief Planning Officer Leeds City Council
A few facts and figures about Leeds The city can be traced back to the 5 th century, when it was rather smaller! It became a major mill town in the Industrial Revolution, with wool as the main industry but also engineering and ironworks The population is now about 475,000 for the main built-up area of the city; but the overall population of the District is 760,000 the second largest city outside London It s also the second largest urban district in England (24km by 21 km) There are over 75 ethnic groups and about 12% of the population is minority ethnic a diverse city It is a major employment centre the largest financial centre outside London, the 4 th largest retail centre, with the busiest railway station in the North and four Universities
The Housing White Paper The housing market in this country is broken, and the cause is very simple: for too long, we haven t built enough homes Planning for the right homes in the right places Building homes faster Diversifying the market Helping people now What are we in Leeds proposing to do in each of these areas?
Planning for the right homes in the right places Making sure we have an up-to-date suite of local plans which are sufficiently ambitious but reflect community aspirations about location, quality, and affordability Maximising contributions from brownfield land and higher densities in the city centre Reviewing green belt boundaries to accommodate need within the city s boundaries Considering sustainability and accessibility, not just designation Promoting a significant new settlement along garden village principles Importance of standardising approaches to housing need devil will be in the detail!
A Plan-led approach Adopted Core Strategy Site Allocations Plan 50,000+ representations 600+ housing allocations 200 employment allocations 20,000 homes in City Centre and fringe 4 new Traveller allocations and safeguarding of existing private sites Aire Valley Area Action Plan Supports Enterprise Zone
Leeds Core Strategy
Green Belt Review - methodology Adopted Core Strategy sets scope of GB Review Inspector agreed GB needed to meet Objectively Assessed Need UDP previously set detailed boundaries Site Allocations releases parcels of land (SHLAA sites) where justified GB release =12,400 homes / 650 ha 2% loss to existing GB Overall net gain new GB to the north east of the River Wharfe
Planning for settlements in North East Leeds COMMERCIALISM IN THE PROPERTY ESTATE
The Growth of Leeds City Centre
Sustainable housing growth locations
Building Homes Faster The importance of build to rent Looking to work proactively with landowners and developers on key strategic sites through masterplanning and clarify build-out rates Difficulties in sensible planning for infrastructure especially schools and health facilities Mismatch between measures for holding developers to account and for holding planning authorities to account
Housing Growth Performance since 2012 Slow recovery hampered by wider economic factors in 2014/15 Strong / over reliance on empties Under-delivery sits at 4,122 since 2012 Between 105 and 120 outlets since recovery 111 outlets now too few to meet targets 2016/17 1,562 new homes in first six months 2016/17 Forecasting 3,000 new build plus empties this year
Meeting our Housing Targets COMMERCIALISM IN THE PROPERTY ESTATE
Planning permissions granted
Ongoing Growth in the City Centre
The East Leeds Extension and Orbital Road COMMERCIALISM IN THE PROPERTY ESTATE
Diversifying the market Over-reliance on big ten volume housebuilders Policy and delivery has been skewed towards their business model no incentive to build out fast or on more difficult sites Need new players who can deliver at scale and pace who? PRS and institutions RPs, small and medium firms, self-builders Councils!
Housing Growth initiatives in Leeds A cross departmental strategy and team planning, development, finance, housing services Delivering mixed tenure growth using our new build programme as a catalyst the Private Sector Acceleration Programme AHP and other work with RPs and third sector Strategic growth areas role of the city centre and a new approach to supporting BTR The Housing White Paper development of a bespoke approach in partnership with CLG
Delivering PRS Core Strategy ambition is for the City Centre to see a renaissance of activity with over 10,200 new homes between 2012 and 2028 numbers Recognition of the business model for BTR Strategic approach to use of commuted sums for affordable housing to create a sustainable mixed tenure housing offer in the city centre