Hi all
This is a planning permission that I have been following that is quite disturbing.
Ref13/00992/VARYCO – VARIATION TO CONDITION 6 OF APPROVED PLANNING APPLICATION A/2010/0203 TO GAIN FLEXIBILITY IN THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT AND MASTERPLAN LAYOUT, TO PROVIDE FOR REDUCED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO REMOVE 20% RENEWABLES REQUIREMENT. REMOVAL OF CONDITION 8 TO REMOVE NEED FOR CODE LEVEL 3, LAND WEST OF A1068 AND SOUTH OF MARKS BRIDGE, AMBLE, MORPETH, NORTHUMBERLAND.
I have placed an objection to this planning application, but permission was passed by the North planning committee on 1st August. Reason given for this is the developer could not make the development financially viable without the changes.
“REDUCED AFFORDABLE HOUSING” The developer (Persimmon) has applied for reduced number of social housing and is offering less than the value of that reduction in housing on a 106 agreement so the value of the 106 will be built elsewhere. This is often on the green belt as other land is too expensive for Social Housing.
“REMOVE 20% RENEWABLES REQUIREMENT” This removes any requirement for solar panels and solar water heating etc. to be built into the new housing.
“REMOVAL OF CONDITION 8 TO REMOVE NEED FOR CODE LEVEL 3” Code level 3 covers what we call sustainable including, Water use, cycle storage, rated white goods, indoor drying area, materials and most importantly a reduction of 25% co2 energy use from a base line of a average house built in 2006.
The removal of Code level 3 and the Renewable s fly’s in the face of several County policy’s.
The Northumberland county Carbon Management Plan.
2.2 Our Low Carbon Vision
2.5 Housing Sector, low carbon vision
Quote
“Vision to 2011/2020 Improve the overall energy efficiency and sustainability of the Northumberland domestic housing stock.
Increase the number of operational domestic renewable devices.”
” The Northumberland Housing Strategy endorses this vision and objectives and also supports and acknowledges the cross cutting issues identified in the Regional Housing Strategy of:
Sustainable development and Climate Change;
Design quality;
Innovation;
Cost-effectiveness of housing delivery; and
Community cohesion and respect.”
And the County Sustainable Community Strategy
Also The North East Housing Strategy continues to support the national programme of action outlined in the Government’s Communities Plan – Sustainable Communities: Building for the future. Which has been quietly removed earlier this year after lobbying from the Housing developers.
In the Core stratergy core options document, Policy 38d is the statement “All new residential units will achieve minimum Code for Sustainable Homes level 4 from 2013 rising to code level 6 after 2016.”
But
“unless the developer can robustly justify why this is not technically or financially viable” as most of the land banks were purchased at top price due to the developers seeing that the “Good times” were going to roll on there may be more applications like the above.
The above permission has now been passed and will increase the risk of possible fuel poverty due to higher household energy costs. This is an increase of 25% or more in future energy costs based on the base line of 2006 therefore the first year would already have extra costs for the house owner. By the year 2030 according to conservative estimates could be £1500 extra.( would you buy a car that had such extra % fuel costs?).
In conclusion
House holders will be at risk of fuel poverty and an increase in social in-equality.
The loss of “sell on” value for the householder.
The loss to the local business community of spending, conservative estimates (£1500) at 2030 of £357,000+ per year.
The increase of the county’s carbon footprint.
Loss of sustainability.
The loss of an educational example of a quality build that could have taken Northumberland and the developer forward.
The real danger of a rush by developers to “dumb down” developments making Northumberland a less attractive place to live.
The “stretching” of County, National and European Sustainability, Community Resilience, Climate change and Social policy.
Yes we need Housing but not at the future cost of householders, the environment and society.
So its profit for the few and long term risk for all!!!!
I am asking Transition Tynedale to support this campaign to increase the sustainability of the new housing stock via the Northumberland Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation Document.
David Grundey
Transition Tynedale 