New local plan will have twice as many homes as public voted for

But officials and the council’s ruling executive say building 550 new houses per year until 2028 - 8,250 in all - in its next local plan is the minimum that will satisfy Government policy and that fewer would invite disaster.

In a consultation on future housing numbers held last summer, the council presented three options: 800 homes a year, based on housebuilding at its peak; 250 homes a year, based on recent sluggish growth, and a middle figure of 500.

Residents chose the lowest figure, despite warnings that this would cut income for schools, roads and other services.

The council’s deputy leader Cllr Les Caborn, who is leading the development of the plan, warned that if the council opted for fewer than 550 homes a year, its plan could be deemed ‘unsound’ by a planning inspector, leaving the district with no plan and no protection from developers.

Cllr Caborn (Con, Lapworth) said: “We fully recognise that the critical thing in all this is to protect the district.

“The overriding impression of Warwick district is that it’s green. We have to preserve that. We believe the figure of 550 will ensure the plan passes the soundness test.”

The new plan will replace the unpopular ‘core strategy’ based on regional planning guidance drawn up under the last government, which called for 10,800 homes by 2026 - an average of 540 a year.

The new figure is slightly higher, but Cllr Caborn said housebuilding had to meet the predicted need for housing and provide enough homes for future jobs.

In its efforts to promote growth in the economy, the Government is offering local authorities a ‘new homes bonus’ from for new and affordable housing built, a locally-set levy paid by developers towards schools, roads, flood defences and parks and the chance to keep some business rates.

Cllr Caborn added councillors would have to balance this with residents’ “very natural” wish to limit development.

Asked why the council presented a scenario that would ultimately be unrealistic, he said: “We have to give people that option.

“Once the district adopts this report we have to help people understand why we’ve arrived at this decision.”

He added that sites would be earmarked for development by March 2012. This will be followed by a consultation of at least eight weeks from April to June 2012.

A draft local plan will be published by December 2012, followed by a six-week consultation, with the plan submitted to the Secretary of State in April 2013.

The plan will be examined by a planning inspector at a public meeting in September 2013, after a pre-hearing meeting in June 2013.

The inspector’s report will be received in February 2014, with its estimated date for adoption scheduled for March 2014.

• Warwick District Council will meet at Leamington town hall on Thursday December 1 at 6pm.

In Figures

• Warwick District’s population is set to rise from 138,000 to 167,000 by 2028.

• A consultation last summer asked residents how many new homes they wanted.

• Of 469 questionnaire responses, 58 per cent chose 250 homes per year, 28 per cent chose 500 and 14 per cent chose 800.

• In a further survey of 700 people, 53 per cent again chose 250

• In a report to councillors, officers and the executive recommend 550 per year.

• Allowing for ‘windfall’ sites becoming available, the figure could rise to 670 homes.

• A Strategic Housing Market Assessment calls for 595 to 715 homes per year by 2031

• Some 11,860 jobs are expected to be created in this period

• Some 3,800 new homes are needed for the existing population, with 11,900 in projections for the next ten years and 14,500 for the next 15 .