North Warwickshire and Bedworth’s local Member of Parliament Craig Tracey has said that household need is over-estimated in the Coventry region due to the most up-to-date data not being considered.
These words of warning come from the local MP’s submission to the Government’s recent housing consultation. Mr Tracey pointed out that the 2014 Office for National Statistics household projections do not take into account the ONS’s recent work on international student migration which is particularly relevant to the household growth projections with the Coventry and Warwickshire Housing Market Area. Coventry is home to both Coventry and Warwick Universities which attract a high number of non-EU International Students. The Higher Education Statistics Agency has provided information that over 6,000 non-EU international students graduate from the two universities each year.
Craig Tracey explained:
“There is concern locally that over-estimations are being made with regard to the household projections for Coventry based upon inaccurate assumptions about the migration of non-EU International Students following the completion of their studies. This is significant for the Local Authorities within Warwickshire which surround Coventry (including Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and North Warwickshire Borough Council both of which are within my constituency) as Coventry’s adopted Local Plan acknowledges that the city cannot accommodate the housing numbers required within the SHMAA. These neighbouring authorities are being asked to allocate additional land for this ‘overspill’ housing. I strongly believe that further clarity and justification on the calculation of local housing needs is essential to increase confidence in both the planning system and localism more generally.”
The local Member of Parliament also highlighted Council concerns in his consultation response, stating: “I share North Warwickshire Borough Council’s concerns that the housing numbers they are being asked to take from neighbouring authorities could remain unclear for a number of years as both authorities concerned have relatively newly adopted local plans. This may also affect the Council’s ability to undertake the masterplanning exercises that are taking place in areas of large allocations and may result in less infrastructure being delivered.”
Mr Tracey had also asked Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council if they would like him to highlight their concerns, but did not receive a response.
The consultation on ‘planning for the right homes in the right places’ has now closed, with the Government responding to submissions in due course.