9165 - BM Outlook 2022 R6 - Flipbook - Page 24
Developer contributions can help, but
only to an extent. “In Lewes, for example,
there was a road capacity issue related
to the A259 in Peacehaven serving
a site that was in all other respects
suitable for around 450 homes, and so
the housebuilder was able to fund the
necessary improvements,” said Hannah.
“That works with sites of that size, but
major trunk road schemes cost millions
of pounds and need strategic funding
from government. The problem is that the
timing of that funding doesn’t always fit in
with the timing of Local Plan preparations.”
The A27 Arundel Bypass, meanwhile, is
moving forward and may open up sites in
the Arun district in the future, but it has taken
more than 25 years to get to this stage.
A more strategic approach is needed
if councils are to meet their housing
targets, with road infrastructure a
particularly challenging issue.
Batcheller Monkhouse planning consultant
Hannah McLaughlin is concerned that
finding the right site for new homes is
only part of the story when new and
improved infrastructure is needed to
service those homes.
“There are considerable infrastructure
constraints on development in this part
of the country, particularly in areas of the
south coast which are bordered by the
sea and a National Park,” she explained.
“This has created road and other transport
capacity issues for a number of planning
authorities, but they simply can’t solve
those issues on their own.”
Chichester District Council was forced
to delay its Local Plan in December after
acknowledging that lack of adequate
funding for works to the A27 Chichester
Bypass, a Stockbridge link road and other
sustainable infrastructure improvements
meant that they were unable to allocate
enough land for housing.
“The works are expected to cost
£65m but so far only around £40m
has been earmarked from developer
contributions,” said Hannah.
“At the end of last year Chichester confirmed
that this shortfall could not be met by
National Highways, West Sussex County
Council or other funding sources such as
the Local Enterprise Partnership, so the
Council had no choice but to delay the plan
and rethink the location of new housing.
Hannah McLaughlin
Senior Planner,
Pulborough
“While councils are being required to
deliver as many new homes as they
are, support with providing the right
infrastructure in the South East is vital.
We need a more strategic forward
planning approach from the many
stakeholders involved in the process,”
Hannah stressed. “This is, of course, far
easier said than done with budgets and
funding sources often focused on more
immediate issues.”
“Without exploring all options, the Local
Plan was unlikely to be approved by the
Government’s Inspector.”
There is, Hannah said, “a disconnect over
timing”, with most major road schemes
planned many years in advance and
funded nationally, while councils have to
make and review their Local Plans within
a much tighter timescale. “Finding sites
is difficult enough, but finding sites with
enough infrastructure capacity adds
another layer of complication,” she said,
“and it’s not something that they can
tackle on their own. It needs a multidisciplinary approach.”
Most major road schemes
are planned many years
in advance and funded
nationally, while councils
have to make and review
their Local Plans within
a much tighter timescale.
National Highways has now said it is
carrying out consultations on work to
the A27 in early 2023, which might pave
the way for government funding down
the line, but it’s all too late for Chichester’s
new Local Plan. The question now
is whether or not new sites can be
identified elsewhere in the district for
the forthcoming plan period.
With councils required to deliver so many new homes, support with providing the right infrastructure in the South East is vital.
22 | Outlook
Planning & Development | 23