Derbyshire Faces Mandate to Construct Over 4,000 New Homes Annually

Derby and Derbyshire are required to construct more than 4,000 new residences each year to address identified needs, according to recently released government targets. The government has published updated figures detailing the number of homes each area in England must build, with some regions experiencing a substantial increase. For Derby and Derbyshire, the new figures indicate an approximate rise of 1,400 additional homes. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has designated house building as a primary objective, setting a national goal of 1.5 million new homes in England over the next five years. The Conservatives have accused the government of “waging war on rural England.” Under the new proposals, Derby is tasked with building the highest number of new homes, with an annual target of just over 900. However, the city’s target has been reduced compared to previous figures, which would have required the city to build more than 1,200 homes each year. The city council informed the BBC that it had “limited” space for new home construction. The council added, “However, we are working with neighbouring authorities to accommodate new housing across Derby and the surrounding areas.” North East Derbyshire and the Derbyshire Dales are the local authority areas that have seen the most significant increases in their targets. Their new annual targets are 591 homes for North East Derbyshire and 580 for the Derbyshire Dales. Councillor Sue Hobson, the Conservative group leader of Derbyshire Dales District Council, stated that the numbers were “totally unrealistic.” She further commented, “The Derbyshire Dales do not need this amount of new housing and our residents will not stand for their villages and towns being overwhelmed.” Amber Valley, while experiencing a smaller increase compared to the summer figures, will be asked to build more homes, at 615. Chris Emmas-Williams, the authority’s Labour leader, told the BBC that the target was “credible.” However, he also added: “We do need developers to deliver their commitments of affordable housing as approved in the applications the council has received.” Bolsover has been identified as the area within the county with the smallest level of need, yet the government is requesting it to build an additional 383 new homes each year. Steve Fritchley, the Labour leader of Bolsover District Council, echoed concerns from Amber Valley, emphasizing that affordable housing should be a priority. He remarked, “We can supply allocations [of land] forever and a day. The problem rests with local authorities being able to build social housing.” Derbyshire County Council had previously described the targets as “extremely challenging, if not impossible.” While the council does not grant permission for houses to be built, it does hold other planning responsibilities. Councils that have previously raised concerns about higher housing targets point to strains on local infrastructure, land shortages, and a lack of capacity in the construction industry as among the constraints. The government has pledged £100 million of extra funds for councils and 300 additional planning officers to expedite decision-making. It stated that local authorities would have 12 weeks to produce timetables for new house building plans or risk intervention from ministers. Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.