1,097 new homes were built in 2022-23, new figures from Braintree District Council reveal.
Braintree District Council passes government Housing Delivery Test, which is an annual measurement of housing delivery to assess the extent to which each local authority is building enough homes to meet their housing need, as determined by Central Government.
This is a separate calculation to the national policy on five-year housing land supply, which includes housing backlog from previous years.
Various developments have been completed over the past year, including Harvard Place in Earls Colne, Toppesfield Road in Great Yeldham and a new retirement living accommodation at the former Bramston Sports Centre in Witham. Braintree District Council has secured Section 106 financial contributions through the planning process from the developers to support future play area and equipment, allotments and healthcare.
280 of the homes built during 2022-23 are affordable housing, meaning they will be available to either rent or purchase at more affordable levels to help people who cannot afford to purchase or rent homes on the open market. A target of an additional 250 affordable homes is expected to be complete by March 2024.
Councillor Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure, said: “We have done all we can to give permission for new homes in sustainable locations as more people and families move to our district and to meet government targets. We’re also continuing to work hard to secure money through the planning process to ensure that alongside new developments, partners bring forward essential local services and are supported with investment in roads and infrastructure.
“It once again highlights the clear gap in the national planning system where councils like us are delivering on new homes but being penalised for developers not bringing forward developments once they have benefitted from planning permission.
“The new national planning reforms for districts like Braintree, who have an up-to-date Local Plan, propose the requirement to update and maintain a five-year housing land supply would be removed and is something we strongly support. We look forward to hopefully see this progress and the other reforms to give more power and certainty to local communities so that the right homes will be built in the right places across the Braintree district.”
Councillor Lynette Bowers-Flint, Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, said: “An additional 280 affordable homes were built last year, with 96% of those being occupied by people on our housing register. This is much-needed for those struggling to get on the housing ladder and we’ll continue to support and secure homes for local people.”
Councils are still awaiting clarity from central government on the position of the new planning reforms planned alongside a new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. As this position has not yet been clarified, Braintree District Council will look to publish an updated five-year housing land supply position in September.