Response from Mr Rodney Sayers (Individual)
1. Mr Rodney Sayers (Individual) : 6 Sep 2011 08:45:00
Please indicate whether you support, support in part or oppose a reduction in the time span of the Land Allocations document
Oppose
Please explain your reasons/add your comments below
The longer time span allows local councils to predict more accurately the housing needs of the area.
Please indicate which of the options for the future housing and employment land needs of small villages, hamlets and open countryside you would support.
Option B - Communities and/or developers bringing forward sites for housing and employment for consideration under relevant Core Strategy policies, through neighbourhood plans and/or other local initiatives
Please explain your reasons/add your comments below
In the main, local councils should be encouraged to understand the need for housing in their locality. They know about housing shortages in their area and the reason why.
I would prefer a levy on the council tax for 4 - 5 years which would go to a land trust. The monies raised for this trust would be separate from the Council and could attract another 25% from the Government if set up as a charity. Local councils could then bid for this money as the need for housing in their area was finalised.
The trust would then purchase the land on behalf of the council concerned and the land be free of charge to the developer. This should ensure that only land needed for 'Affordable housing' is identified.
By putting a levy of say £100 (Average)on each counil tax bill per year, the council could raise around £5,000,000 per year for the trust. I note that housing land in North Lancashire is currently fetching around £300,000 per hectare. So 16 - 17 hectares a year could be purchased. Enough for 500 affordable houses without having to rely on giving developers licence to build the other 1,000 houses in the current plan. This would save a lot of land. The land purchased by the trust would be a gift to the purchasers of the affordable housing whether council or private. A return to older values of helping those more in need.
