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ADEPT response to the Letwin Review

Housing is about creating quality places, its not just numbers: ADEPT responds to the Letwin Review

The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) has responded to Sir Oliver Letwin’s draft analysis on housing published today.

Peter Geraghty, Chair of ADEPT’s Housing, Planning and Regeneration Board said: “ADEPT fully supports the government’s aspiration to deliver housing. However, it is not just about numbers. It is about quality place-making.

“Fundamentally, the best way to achieve this is to take a strategic approach to planning and infrastructure which gets the balance right between social, economic and environmental objectives to create vibrant places for all.”

The draft, published by the Letwin Review, focuses on the largest sites in areas of high housing need.  It has come out in support of ADEPT’s position that housing delivery should be about enabling the provision of high quality sustainable communities of the future that provide for growth.

To achieve this, ADEPT believes, housing development must have the necessary infrastructure in place – including transport, digital, water, energy - and protect and enhance the historic and natural environments. In short, to provide places that people want to live in, work and visit.

ADEPT has put forward its views in its response to both the recent consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the consultation 'Planning for the right homes in the right places.' The Association has raised the crucial role that utilities play in delivery and the impact these can have on bringing forward development.    For ADEPT, the planning and delivery of infrastructure (including utilities) is too fragmented. There is a burden placed on local authorities to provide evidence on viability and deliverability issues with no similar expectation on other agencies, utility companies or developers.  

ADEPT is the voice of Local Authority county, unitary and metropolitan Strategic Place Directors across England with responsibility for the key place based services, including transport, environment, planning, economic development, housing and waste.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For more information and further case studies, please contact Julie Everett at Coast Communications on 01579 352600 or 07866002635 or email [email protected]

The ADEPT Strategic Plan can be downloaded here: https://www.adeptnet.org.uk/documents/adept-strategic-plan-2017-20

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