The Draft SDC Local Plan seeks to deliver a number of new homes that falls below what is required to
meet objectively assessed needs. As a minimum this is would be 1,258 dwellings. However, if a 20%
buffer were to be applied, as is considered justified in this instance, SDC would have a shortfall against
the Standard Methodology of at least 3,552 homes, assuming that all identified sites are allocated.
This is a considerable shortfall and will only compound the issue of affordability and lack of available
homes for the community.
Furthermore, those sites which are currently proposed for allocation, and which subsequently form
part of SDC’s housing calculations, are only being consulted upon and as SDC makes clear in the draft
Plan, there is no guarantee that these will transpire to formal allocations. As a result, the shortfall
would be considerably greater if sites are to fall away. It is therefore evident that SDC needs to allocate
more sites to deliver the new homes and development needed in this District. There are not sufficient
brownfield sites in the District, either inside of defined settlements or in the Green Belt, to meet these
needs. Neighbouring authorities also cannot help address the shortfall against needs, given their own
restrictions, own constraints and failure to meet their own housing land supply. As a result, Green
Belt, exceptional circumstances sites need to be considered and allocated.
The Site at Sidney Gardens represents a good opportunity to help address needs and deliver additional
much needed housing. The site is well contained by defensible features such as transport
infrastructure, and dense woodland preventing development from sprawling from the site, or
settlement further into the countryside. It is subject to no other landscape designations unlike much
other land within the District, some of which is proposed for allocation by SDC.
These representations have demonstrated that the site is deliverable, should benefit from an
allocation in the emerging Plan. This will help to demonstrate that the Plan has been positively
prepared and is consistent with national policy. These are the two key tests of soundness which SDC
must ensure are passed.I would be grateful if these representations and the appended Vision Framework can be taken into
account in the Plan making process. If any further information on the site is required, please do not
hesitate to contact me.

Please see attached for further information.