Several potential development sites involving hundreds of homes are set to be removed from the Eastbourne Local Plan after Cabinet Minister Michael Gove indicated there would not be sanctions for doing so.
Eastbourne Borough Council says it is likely to scrap plans to develop Fisherman’s Green on the seafront, low-lying sites, Sovereign Harbour and University of Brighton sites currently used for sports and leisure.
The Housing Secretary told the House of Commons yesterday in response to a question from Conservative Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell: “I have been taking a close interest in the activities of Eastbourne Borough Council. The decision to develop Fisherman’s Green is the council’s alone, so the council could easily take it out.
“The changes that we have made in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill would allow it to do that.”
He added: “I am afraid that there has been a campaign of dissimulation on the part of her local council; it is a case of Lib Dems spinning here.”
However, Coun David Tutt, leader of the Liberal Democrat-controlled council, told the Eastbourne Reporter: “I am absolutely delighted this is the case because that is not what we were told before.
“It is a great opportunity to take Fisherman’s Green and other sensitive sites out of the Local Plan with no sanctions. It is a change of language from the Government.”
The council had been set a target of identifying sites for 738 homes a year but Coun Tutt said he has asked officers to recalculate the new number.
He believes this will result in 200 to 300 homes a year, which he says is a realistic number. “The 738 was a ridiculous number, bearing in mind Eastbourne’s location with the South Downs and the sea.”
Ms Ansell had said in the Commons: “Fisherman’s Green has been identified by the local council as a potential housing development site in Eastbourne. Local people do not support that, and I support them.
“Can my right honourable friend confirm that the council, which owns the land and has put the site into the strategy, can take Fisherman’s Green out of the strategy without sanction?”
Eastbourne Borough Council had received more than 4,500 objections had been received about the identification of the Fisherman’s Green site of a car park, tennis courts and commercial properties. Some 80 homes had been proposed.
Coun Tutt said a motion calling on the Government to remove “unrealistic housing targets” had been due to go before tomorrow’s full council meeting.
Motion due to be submitted by Councillor Stephen Holt (Lib Dem, Devonshire)
This council notes:
The Government states that Planning Officers have to identify what could be considered viable to the point which meets Government Housing Targets.
For Eastbourne, this means 738 homes a year – which with the sea and National Park is unrealistic.
Our leisure and green spaces are critical to our tourist economy and local residents’ livelihoods and wellbeing.
That there is a need to build more houses in light of a housing crisis.
That over 4,500 objections have been made to the Local Plan’s identification of Fisherman’s Green, including by Eastbourne Borough Council Leader Councillor David Tutt.
This Council:
Thanks those residents who have lodged their own objections, showing the strength of local support to protect valuable green and leisure spaces which have added weight to our own evidence.
Calls on the Government to remove its use of unrealistic housing targets.
Calls on the Government to support the communities wish to protect key green spaces when considering how many new homes should be built in the Borough.
Calls on the Government to provide reassurances that it will not sanction Eastbourne Borough Council for removing the Fisherman’s Green site from the Local Plan proposal.”
Ms Ansell said in a press release today: “How our town develops is hugely important to local people as evidenced in this recent Fisherman’s Green experience.
“For all their talk of ‘threatening government targets’, the Liberal Democrat-led council is actually in the driving seat when it comes to identifying the number of new homes we need to build, and they are being very shy about it.
“I urge them to publish this number with some urgency so Eastbourne residents can be part of the decision.
“I pay tribute to local residents who highlighted the threat to Fisherman’s Green and urge the council, once again, to take it out of the strategy. The council owns the land and can decide not to develop it.”
Ms Ansell was one of nearly 60 Tory MPs who staged a revolt against mandatory housing targets last November, delaying votes on the Levelling Up Bill.
This prompted the Government to water down housing targets for local councils, in order to head off a rebellion from Conservative MPs.
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