Cotswolds MP welcomes the Government’s decision to drop the housing algorithm that would have seen a 188% housing target increase in the constituency.  The announcement was made on 16 December as a response to the consultation on the standard method for assessing Local Housing Need, the Government has the broader strategy to increase housing delivery across the country, by 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.

The Cotswolds, which is 80% AONB has a current local plan requirement of 420 houses, which would have increased under the Proposed Standard Method to 1,209.  This would have put immense pressure to develop on the greenbelt, not taking into account the needs of the existing communities.  Further details will be announced in the New Year.

Commenting, Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown MP said:

“These planning changes were one of the most significant events to affect the Cotswolds since WWII. The housing algorithm was a blunt instrument, which would have meant a staggering increase in housing.  I hope we get back to old method of deciding housing mix and numbers through the local plan.  

“I have been lobbying extremely hard for this change, the Cotswolds being one of the most egregious cases in the country and I made detailed submission to both ‘changes to the current planning system’ consultation and ‘planning for the future’ consultation. Traditionally in the Cotswolds there has been a focus on building expensive 3-4 bedroom houses, which is not affordable to many young people, especially those in the public sector who are priced out of the area. The Government have listened to these concerns and we will be able to decide our housing mix and needs, so we can improve the market for young and elderly buyers.”