South response

Cannock Chase Council supports the continued positive approach to meeting wider Housing Market Area needs and acknowledgment of the necessity to reconsider the levels of provision as the quantity of the shortfall is reviewed on an ongoing basis.

It is noted that this stage of the consultation covers housing growth only; is strategic in nature; and that individual site are not yet being considered. However, it is understood that the preferred strategic spatial approach will inform the future selection of development sites and broad locations are identified as part of the Preferred Spatial Strategy Option G. As part of this, it is noted that paragraph 2.7 of the consultation document states ‘the distribution of housing growth proposed in this consultation may alter to reflect specific site opportunities once these are assessed in more detail.’

Cannock Chase Council would welcome continued discussions as part of the site selection process in relation to any potential cross boundary sites and sites that lie in proximity to the Cannock Chase District boundary. It is noted that as part of the indicative preferred spatial strategy there appear to limited levels of additional housing proposed (in addition to existing allocations and safeguarded land) in areas adjacent to Cannock Chase District, primarily at Huntington and /.

As outlined in the Cannock Chase District Local Plan Issues and Options (May 2019) the Council is currently considering options for accommodating its own housing needs, and potentially those of the wider HMA. The document identified that after taking into account the existing urban capacity for development, and the potential capacity arising from the former Power Station redevelopment, there would be a shortage against the District’s own housing needs alone (before consideration of wider HMA needs). This necessitates consideration of further urban capacity options (such as increased densities or reallocating employment land) that may be available within the District. However, should this not provide sufficient supply then the District may need to consider the release of Green Belt land for future development. As part of the process of demonstrating ‘exceptional circumstances’ to release Green Belt sites, the Council would also need to undertaken discussions with neighbouring authorities to consider the ability for the District’s needs to be met elsewhere (as per paragraph 137 of the NPPF).

It is noted that the consultation document identifies that the spatial strategic options related to non- Green Belt options within District (i.e. existing capacity from permissions/completions/allocations and future options within the ‘Open Countryside’) do not provide for the level of growth being considered and need to be considered in the context of deliverability and sustainability considerations (as per para 138 of the NPPF). It is noted that the Council is therefore considering options which lie within the Green Belt too (paragraphs 4.9-4.10).

The document recognises the unmet needs of the adjacent Black Country authorities in its assessment of options. Cannock Chase Council would welcome recognition of the District’s constrained nature too and that it is currently considering capacity for ‘proportionate dispersal’ (small urban extensions) options within the southern part of the District, as identified in the Strategic Growth Study (2018). This may necessitate consideration of cross boundary site options accordingly. It should also be noted that sites in proximity of the Cannock, and Heath Hayes urban area potentially represent sustainable locations in terms of accessibility to existing services, but with the need to consider upgrades to infrastructure provision accordingly.