The Local Plan sets out a minimum housing provision target of 6,900 for the period 2021 – 2031, well below the minimum target of 13,300 set out in the London Plan for the same period. The Council's estimated housing need for the period is 14,700 dwellings.
However, the inspector said in his report (17-page / 120KB PDF) that the Council's minimum target figure was based on the "best available evidence" and that the plan could only be found sound if its policies were effective.
"While this sits uneasily with the aim of significantly boosting the supply of housing land the fact remains that one of the test of the soundness of the plan is that its policies must be effective. The plan would not be effective if its policies included housing figures which the Borough simply would not have the capacity to deliver. This is a point that should be given considerable weight," the inspector said.
The Mayor of London has announced an intention to revise the London Plan at which the supply and demand for housing will be considered at a London wide level. The inspector said that if it were necessary for the Council to accommodate additional housing growth into the plan after a revision of the London Plan, the plan could be modified at that time.
The inspector required the Council to modify the plan to make its support for the National Planning Policy Framework's presumption of sustainable development explicit.
The Council said it expects the plan to be formally adopted in April 2013.
