Government orders council to submit housing plans
BBCA local authority has been ordered to submit its house building plans to the government after repeatedly voting them down.
Last week, South Tyneside Council rejected its controversial Local Plan document, which includes a scheme to build 1,200 homes on green belt land in Fellgate, for the second time.
But Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has told the council it must submit its plan by 18 March as Labour attempts to ramp up housebuilding across the country.
Council leader Tracey Dixon said she now had "no option" but to send the draft plan for public examination.
All councils must have a Local Plan setting out how they will develop housing, employment and public facilities over the next 15 years.
But in a letter to the council, Pennycook said it was particularly important for South Tyneside to have a new plan as it had a significant need for affordable housing.
"The current South Tyneside Local Plan is one of the oldest in the country having been adopted in June 2007, meaning the policies it contains are significantly out of date," he said.
"Having failed to submit its emerging plan for examination, the local authority faces the prospect of having to prepare a replacement plan, which will further extend the period in which it does not have an up-to-date plan in place."
Housebuilding is a focus of the Labour government, which campaigned to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years and has set construction targets for councils.
But Dixon said the blueprint was being developed to create the best communities for its residents.
"Having an up-to-date Local Plan means that we are in control of development, and we can ensure it is high quality and accompanied by the necessary infrastructure," she said.
"But it isn't just about building houses; it's about seeking the most sustainable locations for development, creating the kind of communities our residents deserve, with policies in place to protect community facilities and services, enhance nature and wildlife and reduce pollution."
The public examination is expected to take place later this year.