The long awaited 'Sussex North Water Neutrality Study: Part C – Mitigation Strategy' was published today. Amongst much discussion around how not to make things worse, and mostly ignoring the points raised in my earlier blog, there are some interesting insights in this report.
Firstly, concerning the likely housing growth in Horsham District, the report estimates 12,800 new dwellings over the period to 2039, with initial growth being below average. This compares with the previous 19,860 over a similar 18 year time span (cabinet, July 2021) ie a reduction of 1/3 compared with central government's 'Standard Method'. Will this be 'Planning Inspector' proof?
Secondly, the report identifies the need for an LPA-led Offsetting Scheme that 'will require an operating body that will administer it, collect funding, pay offset providers and monitor results'. What teeth, if any, will it have?
More wrangling to come, I suspect...
