IN HIS first task as leader of Wokingham Borough Council, Cllr Clive Jones has written to Michael Gove calling for a reduction in housing numbers imposed on the borough.
Cllr Jones penned the letter to the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities on Monday, May 23, and invited him to visit Wokingham.
He said: “Over the last 40 years 40,000 new houses have been built in Wokingham borough.
“Many residents think that we have done our fair share of development and they say enough is enough.”
A key manifesto pledge from the Liberal Democrats ahead of the local elections earlier this month was to lobby government to reduce development in the borough.
Each council in England is required to build a number of new homes as set out by the government, determined by a mathematical formula.
Last year Wokingham had its housing target reduced to 768 homes.
Cllr Jones believes this number is still too high.
In his letter to Mr Gove he said: “I wanted to reach out to you at the earliest opportunity to raise the continuing concerns of our residents as to how the planning system is failing our borough and no doubt many other local authorities.
“I am sure we both wish to see a planning system that is fair to all places, and is consistent and understandable to residents and business.
“Whilst recognising the needs of the country, the government must be sensitive to and respond to how government policy impacts communities and places.”
Cllr Jones says the government’s national planning policy has “lost sight” of how development should be managed on a national scale.
He added: “In the case of housing, housing need is calculated through a simple mathematical formulae.
“These formulae are applied without any sense check or any consideration of constraints or opportunities.
“Stepping away from this formula requires a local authority to demonstrate ‘exceptional circumstances’ – a very high bar which I do not believe any local authority has cleared, even those which are within the green belt.”
Cllr Jones accepts the formula is a “laudable approach” but says the reality is different to what can be expressed by a mathematical equation.
He is calling on Mr Gove to lower the expectations on Wokingham and reduce the target imposed on the borough.
He said: “The ask of Wokingham borough and our residents must be lowered to a fair scale.
“I welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss planning reform further with you and in particular the housing need for Wokingham borough.
“I also warmly extend to you an invitation to visit Wokingham borough and see for yourself the exemplary work we do.”
