Richborough supports the clear intention to transform the Borough’s poor track record on housing delivery by seeking to meet identified needs and the acknowledgment that this will lead to “the transformation of urban centre and waterfront areas and large-scale development in suburban and rural areas”.
Richborough supports the strategic approach to the distribution of development referred to in this statement, which recognises that the scale of housing need will have transformational impacts across the entire Borough. Richborough is of the view that the identified needs can only be met if development is allocated across a range of areas, including those where development is most viable and not solely focusing on the Hoo peninsula and urban locations. This is particularly the case since the withdrawal of the HIF funding.
The paragraph refers to the Land Availability Assessment identifying a capacity for 38,200 homes which will proceed to the next stage of detailed assessment. Richborough supports the intention to assess these sites rigorously and agrees that given the Borough-wide constraints in regard to environmental considerations, infrastructure requirements and viability, many of these sites will not be found to be suitable, available or achievable.
Richborough is also of the view that rigorous viability work needs to be provided that tests all modified development management policies, including changes to Building Regulations and likely changes to the NPPF, so as to clearly evidence that they do not result in onerous requirements that would prohibit much needed sustainable development being brought forward.