Communities and Local Government
A selection of images representing communities.
Direct contact 020 7944 4400- contactus@communities.gov.uk
- Housing
- Housing supply
- Growth Areas
- Growth Points
- Criteria for growth points
Housing
Criteria for Growth Points
- proposals for Growth Points must demonstrate a robust case for accelerated, additional economic and housing growth, and where this can be shown to relieve pressure on high demand areas, tackle affordability issues
- proposals should be developed at least to the level needed for inclusion in the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) process and will be subject to the usual statutory planning processes. They therefore should be compatible with the underlying principles of the relevant current or emerging RSS in terms of growth strategy and capacity, but they should also commit to longer term sustainable growth
- for first round applications, proposals needed to offer at least 20 per cent housing growth above the pre-Sustainable Communities Plan baseline (ie the level in relevant RPG guidance - or equivalent - at January 2003), with overall housing growth of at least 500 homes per year. For second round applications it is expected that expressions should take account of the significantly higher level of 2004 household projections and, in the case of the northern regions in particular, changes in plan levels between 2003 and the surrent round of RSS reviews.
- proposals must demonstrate that their impact in both the short and long-term is not at the cost of sustainable development in environmental, social, and economic terms.
- proposals will need to set out their local and strategic impacts on the environment (for example regarding water supply, flooding and sewerage) and they should be realistic about the need for additional investment
- proposals must set out their impact on the transport networks in the area, both strategic and local, and they should be realistic about the need for additional investment, particularly in the context of the transport resources likely to be available in the context of regional funding allocations. (Please note that any bids for transport related projects from District Councils would need to be supported by the relevant County Council)
- proposals should make a good contribution to the wider sustainability objectives set out in Sustainable Communities:Homes for All and the Sustainable Communities Plan, for example in encouraging high quality design and environmental enhancement
- proposals should demonstrate potential to contribute positively to cross-Government priorities, for example on regional economic performance and on innovation and efficiency on urban transport
- where possible, proposals should demonstrate synergy with other public sector programmes and should also seek to lever in private sector contributions
