West Berkshire Council and Reading Borough Council launch legal challenge against Government changes to planning policy

CCB fully support the initiative launched by West Berkshire and Reading Borough Council to legally challenge a recent ministerial statement issued by Brandon Lewis MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning. 

The statement seeks to eliminate affordable housing requirements and other financial planning obligations required on small scale development sites (below 10 units or 5 units in designated rural areas).  The impact of this change could have a significant effect on levels of affordable housing and money available to support services affected by development.

While rural exception sites are exempted from this change, the impact on rural communities could still be significant.  Generally the only development that comes forward in rural parishes is on small sites.  If there I to be no affordable homes on these schemes then the parishes will only become increasingly balanced and unsustainable.  Further landowners and developers will be encouraged to parcel their land into smaller tranches in order to submit applications that fall below the thresholds.

This issue has been heavily lobbied against by many organisations. Well done to West Berkshire and Reading for tackling it head on with a judicial review.