Agenda item

The Housing Delivery Test Action Plan (“Action Plan”) in necessary because of the results of the 2022 Housing Delivery Test published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) show that the Authority’s housing delivery has fallen below 95% of its requirement over the previous three years.  This means that in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework the Authority is required to prepare an Action Plan which assesses the causes of the under-delivery and identifies actions that will be taken to increase delivery in future years.

The Action Plan will provide an ongoing framework for the Authority that will be reviewed annually, until housing returns above 95% of the Authority’s requirement.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval on the proposals for the first North Tyneside Housing Delivery Test Action Plan.

The Action Plan was necessary because the results of the 2022 Housing Delivery Test (HDT) published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) showed that the Authority’s housing delivery had fallen below 95% of its requirement over the previous three years. This meant that in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework the Authority was required to prepare an Action Plan which assessed the causes of the under-delivery and identified actions that would be taken to increase delivery in future years.

The Action Plan would provide an ongoing framework for the Authority that would be reviewed annually, until housing returned above 95% of the Authority’s requirement. This would consider the effectiveness of the actions identified and included in the Action Plan and to assess the success in achieving an increase in the overall level of housing delivery across the borough.

In summary, the actions within the HDT Action Plan included:-

·        Strategic allocations – all relevant services are in place to support consideration and progress of relevant planning applications. Agreement and discharge of any relevant conditions and agreements to enable development to commence are recognised as a priority.

·        Local Plan allocations – Engagement and discussion with the housing industry both private developers and registered providers to establish potential interest and confirm ongoing support for delivery of sites of interest.

·        Site frameworks – To increase potential certainty for planning applicants the Authority will consider preparation of development frameworks for key sites that may present complex challenges.

·        Area Wide Design Code - Development of a North Tyneside Area Wide Design Code to align with latest National Planning Policy Framework is expected to create a useful tool for residents, partners, and developers to improve the quality of planning applications for development and potential speed for their consideration.

·        Affordable homes – Delivery of 5,000 affordable homes remains a Council priority, with over 2,000 homes already built. The Authority continues to seek and progress opportunities to increase the pace and scale of affordable housing delivery.

The Housing Delivery Test Action Plan would become a living document that would require review and update for each year that housing delivery in North Tyneside remained below 95% of the housing requirement. Whilst the actions identified were expected to see substantial recovery in housing delivery, the three-year time frame for the HDT and lead in time for new sites to come forward and significant completions at Murton Gap and Killingworth Moor meant delivery was likely to remain below 95% for at least the next 12 months.

The Authority would continue to monitor the effectiveness of the actions identified, underlying conditions of the housing market in the borough and evidence of improvement in supply and delivery.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: To approve the recommendations set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report, or alternatively, to not agree the recommendations and request a revised Action Plan be prepared. Given preparation of a HDT Action Plan was a national policy requirement there was no alternative to publishing an Action Plan.

Resolved that (1) the North Tyneside Housing Delivery Test Action Plan as appended to the report, be approved;

(2) the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development, in consultation with the Deputy Mayor, be authorised to make any minor amendments to the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan as considered appropriate and to publish the Action Plan on the Authority’s website; and

(3) the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development to monitor the Housing Delivery Test Action Plan and, in consultation with the Deputy Mayor, be authorised to make any necessary amendments to the Plan and to publish any amended Action Plan on the Authority’s website.

(Reasons for Decision: It enables publication of a HDT Action Plan within the recommended timeframe.  It sets in place a positive framework for the Authority to continue to work with its partners on housing delivery to meet the needs of residents in North Tyneside.)