SSR NEWS
RACING AHEAD!
SSR Planning is pleased to announce that detailed planning permission has been successfully obtained, on behalf of David Wilson Homes, for 46 dwellings on an edge of village site at Silverstone. The site is outside the settlement boundary and therefore contrary to current planning policies for the area, however, the absence of a 5-year housing land supply in the South Northamptonshire District was a key material consideration in favour of the proposal.
It was also possible to argue that Silverstone is a sustainable location for additional housing development and that the site in question was suitable for development and deliverable.
Although edge of village developments have recently been allowed on appeal at Potterspury and Cosgrove, this is the first instance in recent times of the Council granting permission for largely market housing development of this scale outside village boundaries. Hitherto, only affordable housing had been allowed on a few ‘rural exception’ sites.
In order to respond to the problem created by the current shortfall in housing land supply, the Council is likely to adopt an Interim Rural Housing Planning Policy. This would provide a framework for considering the increasing number of proposals by landowners and developers looking to take advantage of the present situation, and is likely to seek to direct development to those settlements with good sustainability credentials.
SSR Planning is well placed to advise on the prospects of particular sites on the edge of villages, but there is a need to act quickly as the window of opportunity will not be open for too long!
Geoff Bolton
