We have, over the years, been involved in many rural exception sites for affordable housing which has become somewhat of a specialism for us. We have succeeded on a variety of appeals in the last couple of years for large scale 100% affordable sites which is great to see, but why are we always at appeal?
The housing need data is extremely damning for the local authorities however we always find resistance in the face of such a need. In South Worcestershire the housing data for households in need of affordable housing is in excess of 3000(!), yet we still find that every single site we pursue (with need data to justify) hits a brick wall. Now, this is not necessarily at an officer level, but at a local level with Parish and District councillors thinking they ‘know better’.
A prime example was our appeal win at Oakleigh Heath, Hallow. The Council suggested there was no need for any more affordable housing, however our team demonstrated a need in excess of 600 dwellings in the coming years for the parish (and surrounding Parish’s). Pretty damning stuff, and we won the appeal on that basis. But why were we there? We even won costs against the Council here, and another nearby site on a different appeal. Surely this can be avoided – saving everyone involved hard earned cash (including tax payers!).
It doesn’t seem the trend will end and so we find on many sites (of any kind of tenure) the appeal process is the only route to success; but is this sustainable?