Planning and Land UseReport ByJoe Gertler Contents 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Settlement underpressure 1.3 Housing Affordability1.4 Planning Policies 1.
5 Development Management 1.6 Proposal Appendix 1.7 Conclusion 1.1. This report outlines a city I selected thatI perceived under pressure for growth and development. It also conveys the waythe national planning policy framework operates and the use of planningapplications approval in order to build on land.
In my report I use an examplein Manchester, which expresses how the national planning policy framework deemsa proposals to be approved and how the proposal further expresses the pressurefor growth and development in the city. Furthermore, my report shows how thenational planning policy framework and local plans collaborate to ensuresustainable development across the county. 1.2. The city I feel is under pressure forgrowth and development is the city of Greater Manchester.
It has the biggestpopulation increase after London, by 2021; the population is expected to be 532,000,which is a 5.8% increase from 2011. The council reported 4,000 new homes areconstructed each year, however 10,000 are required. This clearly shows the imbalance,which will inevitably lead to a large proportion of the population homeless.Its projected that there could be 1,500 more families then homes in 2026; by2037 it could rise to more than 9,400 families. This clearly shows the pressurefor housing and how important development is needed.
Several sites around Manchester have been identified,capable of building 48,000 homes. This would be enough for the coming 5 years,however it isn’t sustainable for the long term. 1.3.
Due to people not being able to afford housing, there hasbeen a rise in the number of rentals. However, even still the rental price isever increasing due to high demand for housing. Furthermore, it creates a lotof concern for younger generations as first time buyers may find it extremelychallenging to find accomation. According to the Manchester evening newsManchester has been identified as the North West’s top ‘homelessness’ hotspot’.This therefore puts a massive strain on the government and local councils tofind solutions to prevent this from getting out of hand.
Something has to bedone in order to increase the supply of housing or capping rental prices inorder to make it more affordable for people. However, the government cant justbuild houses, there is a protocol the local council must follow. 1.4.The Governments planning policy is found inthe National Planning Policy Framework.
This contains the national planningissues, such as residential or retail. Decisions and local planning policies onplanning applications must comply with what the national planning policyframework expresses about different types of land use. A local plan helps planfor future development in a sustainable way. Weather planning applications canbe approved or not are determined though the local planning system. The countryhas a plan-led system approach of development meaning each local planning authoritymuch assembles a local plan. The plan consists of every local planning policyin that area and every planning application much follow these guidelines. A newstyle of local plan was introduced in 2004 replacing the old style. Local plansprepared prior the 2004 act are different to those after the act was inplace.
The pre-2004 documentscontained one document containing every local planning policy and also theproposals map. The 2004 act introduced the approach for a ‘folder ofdocuments’. Local plans by law must contain proposal maps, site allocations andthe core strategy helping to implement the guidelines for determining planningapplications and forthcoming developments in the area. The documents includedin the local plan should contain policies and proposals about spatial planningand land use in the area. Having a good local plan provides an array ofadvantages to the city and its economy. The benefits of having an up-to-dateand clear local plan provide certainty to potential investors as they gainconfidence to commit to Manchester. More investments lead to more jobs likelybeing available. However, if people come to Manchester for work, housing willbe demanded linking to the housing crisis.
In addition, it clarifies the councils approach todevelopment and creates a clear protocol for the council and prospectivedevelopers. High pressure for housing creates a problemfor the council and the planning policy. Houses cannot be built everywhere andanywhere. In order to meet this serge in demand, planning permission is neededin order to build on land. When developing any type of land, planningpermission is required according to the Town and County Planning Act 1990.Planning permission ensures developments are in the public interest. It takesinto account the benefits and drawbacks of factors such as economic,environmental and social. Failing to obtain planning permission can result inthe council enforcing an order to undo the building work.
Evidently, this coststime and money and can easily be avoided if planning permission is obtainedprior to commencement of the building work. 1.5.
The serge in demand for housing is due to80,000 people moving to the city between 2001 and 2011. This leads to a massiverise in the prices for housing due to little supply, infect its increasedfaster than any other city in England. The average price for a house increasedby 8.
4% in comparison with the same month a year ago. This leads to people notbeing able to afford housing making them in need of council housing. The numberof people waiting to get council housing has doubled since 1997. The figuressuggest the waiting list has risen from 50,466 in 1997 to 102,025 last year. GreaterManchester’s reputation is internationally competitive prompting fast growingemployment sectors and prominent education systems helping to retain workingpeople. In order to support the continued growth, Manchester needs a variety ofaffordable housing products across all housing types. Social housing is when aproperty is let at low rents on a secure basis for those who are strugglingwith housing costs. An application on the 16th of December 2014 proposedrecent plot of land at the junction of Bury Old Road & Middleton Road,Crumpsall, Manchester, M8 4HE be turned in social housing.
The application wasfor the erection of 15 no. 2-3 storey dwelling houses with associated carparking, landscaping and boundary treatment. The application was determined ina positive and proactive manner. No significant problems arose during theconsideration for the application. It was approved on the basis that the proposal accords withpolicies DM1, SP1, H3, T2 and EN1 of the Manchester Core Strategy and theNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). There are no material considerationsof sufficient weight to indicate otherwise. The location of the proposal is perfect forpeople who work in town due to a short travel commute.
1.6. Appendix 1: This picture shows the proposedhousing clearly from a birds eye view, making it easy to distinguish the layoutand the scale of this project. Appendix 2: This picture outlines the floorplan for three of the properties making it easy to visualize the project. Italso makes it easier for developers to make an adjustments where necessaryallowing the project to have more chance of being a success.
Appendix 3: This outlines what theproperties will look like face on. It also helps to understand the shape andheight of each house. Appendix 5This is a street view taken from theinternet making it easier to visualize the scale of the project.
The project islocated on a main road, which leads directly into the city centre. Furthermore,a bus stop is clearly visible on the side where the project is; making is easyfor residents commute. The appendix also shows a map of the area, outliningneighboring building and other road links. 1.7.
This project therefore fits the guidelinesof the NPPF as it helps to “building a strong, competitive economy”. It createsaffordable housing for working people who may not previously been able toafford housing close to town. This project encourages people to get jobs intown due to the close commute therefore helping to boost the economy.
This mayact as a multiplier effect leading to more projects being approved due to thepositive effects its likely to bring to the economy. Furthermore, it helps toreduce the amount of people without housing therefore improving the localcommunity and society as a whole. The NPPF also explains the need for’affordable housing in the housing market’, another reason explaining why theplanning application was a success.
