Planning permission sought for 32 dwellings in Sevenoaks...

Outline permission is sought for a development of up to 32 dwellings comprising 8 townhouses and 24 apartments in Sevenoaks, Kent.

The proposal is within the settlement boundary and fully policy compliant.

As the Core Strategy is more than 5 years old, under the NPPF, Sevenoaks District Council need to identify and update annually a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide a minimum of five years’ worth of housing against their local housing need. Back in April this was calculated to be 711 dwellings per year, as is accepted in the Council’s Housing Delivery Test Action Plan (August 2020). The Core Strategy included a much lower figure of 165 dwellings per year and so is not reflective of the up to date situation with regard to the extent of the local housing need.

Furthermore, the Council cannot demonstrate a 5 year supply of deliverable housing sites. The supply is stated to be 2.6 years, which amounts to a deficit of 2,056 homes. Although some consider that the situation is worse and that just 1.83 years can be demonstrated. Whichever way you look at it the housing shortage is severe.

Unfortunately the emerging Local Plan, which sought to deal with the housing supply issue, has been found unsound due to a failure to fulfil the “duty to cooperate” plus a range of concerns in relation to the Green Belt. The Local Plan Inspector’s findings were the subject of Judicial Review proceedings by the Council, but were dismissed.

Sevenoaks is in a difficult position as so much of the district is designated as green belt. However, this site is within the settlement boundary and should be fully supported.

To discuss this proposal, or explore how we can help you with your next project, please contact our team via enquiries@plainview.co.uk.

IMAGE SOURCE: Urban and Rural Ltd.