Overall Housing Needs
4.1 The government requires that strategic policies should, as a minimum, provide for objectively assessed needs for housing and other uses, as well as any needs that cannot be met within neighbouring areas, unless:
- The application of policies in the Framework that protect areas or assets of particular importance provides a strong reason for restricting the overall scale, type, or distribution of development in the plan area; or
- Any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole.
4.2 The existing Local Plan has a requirement for 305 new homes per year. The latest government policy requires the provision of 410 homes per year. In bringing forward a new or updated Local Plan, it will be essential to plan for the minimum requirement set out by the government. Accordingly, the minimum requirement for the plan period 2024 to 2042 will need to be 7,380 homes.
4.3 National policy also notes that authorities should plan for development needs that cannot be accommodated in neighbouring areas. Blackpool’s housing need has significantly increased as a result of the new standard method, from 147 dwellings per annum to 587 per annum. Blackpool Council is concerned about meeting this annual need due to the highly constrained nature of the Borough. However, Blackpool is currently developing a new Local Plan and, as part of their evidence base, will undertake a Housing Needs Assessment, Green Belt Review, and Housing Land Availability Assessment. These studies will determine how much of the new housing figure Blackpool can accommodate. If the evidence shows that Blackpool cannot meet all of its housing need within its area, Blackpool Council is required to approach both Fylde and Wyre Councils to request whether any of the unmet need can be accommodated where practical and consistent with achieving sustainable development.
4.4 It should be noted that in seeking to meet the requirement, there are sites brought forward through the existing Local Plan where housing delivery will continue into the period covered by the new plan, in some cases right up to 2042. Therefore, a significant proportion of the homes needed to meet these needs are on sites allocated in the existing Local Plan, many of which already have planning permission.
Q17. Should the Local Plan provide for:
- 410 homes per year?
- 410 homes per year plus a number agreed through the Fylde Coast Duty to Co-operate process if unmet need arises, consistent with sustainable development?
- A lower figure? (please specify)
- A higher figure? (please specify)
Q18. Please explain your reasoning for the figure you have suggested.
Housing Mix
4.5 The existing Local Plan Policy H2 requires, for developments of 10 homes or more, at least 50% of dwellings to be 1-, 2- or 3-bedroom homes, with at least 33% 1- or 2-bedroom homes in rural areas. This is based on the increase in the population aged 65 and over and the resulting need for smaller units, as well as the principle of delivering mixed, sustainable communities.
4.6 However, the relationship between housing need and housing delivery is not necessarily direct. Churn within the existing housing stock provides a supply of homes, while new homes, which carry a significant price premium, are more likely to be taken by households already in accommodation, often in situations approaching overcrowding. The provision of new larger units allows mid-sized and smaller units to become available to those with more moderate incomes.
4.7 In the case of affordable housing, the Fylde Housing Needs Survey 2022 (HNS) provides a clear indication of the sizes and types of affordable housing needed. The HNS sets out a net need for 593 units per annum: 418 units for affordable rent (social rent, affordable rent) and 175 units for affordable purchase (shared ownership, discount market sales housing, rent-to-buy).
4.8 The Council will continue to develop its evidence base in advance of creating policies for the new Local Plan.
Needs for Specific Groups
4.9 National policy requires local plans to identify needs and provide for specific groups, including:
- Those who require affordable housing (including social rent)
- Families with children
- Looked-after children
- Older people (including retirement housing, housing-with-care, and care homes)
- Students
- People with disabilities
- Service families
- Travellers
- People who rent their homes
- People wishing to commission or build their own homes
4.10 The existing population of the Borough already has a disproportionate number aged 65 and over (24,817, representing 29% of the population, compared to 21.2% in Lancashire and 18.7% in England). The population is projected to age further, with those aged 65 and over increasing by 10,482 by 2042 and those 85 and over increasing by 2,696 (77.8%). The existing Local Plan encourages provision for elderly people with support needs but does not cover wider types of older people’s housing. The new plan will need to address these identified needs.
4.11 An emerging issue is the accommodation of looked-after children. Fylde has a disproportionate number of looked-after children, many from outside Lancashire, which puts pressure on local agencies. Small units often do not represent a material change of use and are not subject to planning control. The new plan will need to identify local needs and consider planning policy responses.
4.12 The Fylde Coast Gypsy, Traveller, and Travelling Showpersons’ Accommodation Assessment 2023/24 (GTAA) identifies a need for 15 additional Gypsy and Traveller pitches, with the potential for 17–21 pitches to become available through intensification or expansion of existing sites. There is one unauthorised site with one pitch.
Q19. What views do you have on how the new Local Plan should provide for older people’s housing?
Q20. What views do you have on how the new Local Plan should provide for looked-after children and adults with care support? What controls should the plan introduce? (e.g., control of numbers in a designated area or specific locations)
Q21. What views do you have on how the new Local Plan should provide for the need for additional Gypsy and Traveller pitches?
Q22. Would you support the release of exception sites in rural areas to support affordable housing and/or Gypsy and Traveller pitches?
New care home in St Annes constructed as part of a larger housing development
