Developers East Sussex minutes: 12 November 2024
Meeting details
Date: 12 November 2024
Time: 2pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
See the list of attendees and apologies for this meeting.
1. Welcome and introductions
1.1 BH welcomed the attendees and advised that he would be chairing the meeting as JB sent apologies.
2. Review of previous minutes, 10 September 2024
2.1 There were no actions from the previous meeting. The minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting.
3. Autumn Budget 2024
3.1 NG led a discussion on the government’s Autumn Budget held on 30 October 2024, focusing on the areas affecting planning, development, affordable housing, and any likely impacts in East Sussex. The key points covered are summarised in the web article Budget 2024: Planning & Social Housing, published by NG ahead of the DES meeting.
3.2 The broad view of the group was that while most of the Budget is welcome, not enough has been done overall, and we need considerably bigger numbers to see real change. On affordable housing in particular, the prospect of a new affordable housing programme is helpful but not enough (yet) to bring Registered Providers (RPs) back to the table – five years is not long enough, ten years would provide far more certainty.
4. Market conditions / open forum
4.1 The group discussed the current state of the market and the ongoing issues around the supply of materials, labour shortages, price increases etc. From a build perspective, the availability of materials and labour has levelled out alongside more normalised levels of cost inflation. Activity on land is ticking over, as expected in the run up to Christmas, and we’re expecting improved inflationary values over the next five years. The commercial market is relatively strong, but commercial lettings have quietened down and have seen an immediate impact of the Budget (most likely due to the NI increase).
4.2 Affordable housing remains constrained by market failure, with sales of homes relatively quiet over the summer period. A small number of RPs do appear to have an appetite for new homes, but the last 18-24 months has seen reduced positivity, confidence and resulting activity. The most recent Affordable Housing Roundtable event on 7 November 2024 again discussed how best to respond to persistent problems and market failures in the Section 106 process, and where/how to lobby for change. All of the intelligence and learning from the roundtable events is being fed to both Homes England and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to hopefully influence policy.
5. Other national policy changes
5.1 MB advised that finalised changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) are still expected to be published before the end of the year, with an announcement expected before Christmas.
5.2 BH noted that MHCLG called in plans for a large new development in Sittingbourne, Kent last week, just hours before the decision was due to be made by Swale BC. Although it’s not in our area, it possibly suggests a more “interventionist” government department, so is a story to keep an eye on.
5.3 RM advised that Homes England will see a personnel change in the new year as Peter Denton (Chief Executive) and Peter Freeman (Chair of the Board) are both stepping down. Homes England has confirmed the appointment of Eamonn Boylan as Interim Chief Executive from 15 January 2025.
6. East Sussex Housing Strategy
6.1 MC provided a progress update on the development of the new Housing Strategy for East Sussex, delivering a presentation on the emerging priorities in regard to housing supply. The aim of the strategy is to provide a framework to complement the place-based approaches of existing authorities.
6.2 JP commented that Rother DC’s own housing development strategy is in progress, and colleagues are liaising with MC to ensure it feeds into the county-wide strategy. BH added that he’s been asked to represent DES on the Hastings Housing Strategy Steering Group, so can similarly feed in.
6.3 All colleagues are invited to continue providing feedback on key areas of work. Next steps will include a refresh of the evidence base, with a draft strategy to be shared with specialist groups and partnership networks, including DES, very soon.
7. Local Planning Authority (LPA) updates
7.1 Officers provided updates on the progression of their Borough and District Councils’ Local Plans. Rother DC and Wealden DC have both completed their Draft (Regulation 18) Local Plan consultations and are now working through the representations received. Officers still hope to progress to Pre-Submission (Regulation 19) during 2025, however both authorities have been impacted by staffing issues so there is likely to be a timetable delay.
7.2 Hastings BC is expecting to be under public consultation on the Pre-Submission (Regulation 19) Local Plan at the start of May 2025, and hope to submit it for Examination in September 2025. It’s possible they will be at Examination by the end of the calendar year, or into early 2026, but timings may be subject to change depending on the revised NPPF.
8. Any other business (AOB)
8.1 NF advised that this year’s annual DES Dinner with the Leader on 10 September 2024 was well attended and very well received by all. Colleagues agreed and described the event in Eastbourne as “a unique coming together of the private and public sector in an informal setting”, applauding its joined-up approach.
Summary of actions
None.
Attendees and apologies
Attendees
- AF, Amy Fearn, Rother DC
- AJ, Alex Jones, Stantec
- BB, Beverley Bayliss, East Sussex CC
- BH, Brian Horton, South East Housing & Development Group
- BW, Ben Weller, Vistry Homes
- CBl, Colin Black, Mayer Brown
- CBr, Chris Broome, Sea Change Sussex
- CBu, Craige Burden, Barratt David Wilson Homes
- DE, Dave Evans, East Sussex CC
- DM, David Martin, Stiles Harold Williams Partnership
- ERS, Elizabeth Ross-Smith, Greymoor
- GF, Gemma Forshaw, Wealden DC
- GM, Gilian Macinnes, Rother DC
- GQ, Graeme Quinnell, Rother DC
- HF, Hayley Frankham, Wealden DC
- JC, James Clement, Stiles Harold Williams Partnership
- JL, James Lench, Akehurst Homes
- JM, Josh Mellor, Marrons
- JP, Joe Powell, Rother DC
- JS, John Stebbings, Thakeham
- KB, Kim Bloxham, East Sussex CC
- KE, Kemi Erifevieme, Rother DC
- MB, Mark Bewsey, DHA Planning
- MC, Michael Courts, East Sussex CC
- NF, Nick Fenton, Nick Fenton Associates
- NG, Nicola Gooch, Irwin Mitchell
- NT, Neill Tickle, Counties and Capital Consulting
- RB, Rick Bhatia, Southern Housing
- RM, Rob Moore, Homes England
- RT, Ryan Trodden, MHCLG
- SH, Susan Hanson, Hastings BC
- SL, Steven Lecocq, Mayer Brown
- SR, Stacey Robins, Wealden DC
- SW, Stuart Wigley, Baily Garner
- TL, Tristan Lee, Tarn Homes
- TS, Tanya Szendeffy, Eastbourne BC / Lewes DC
- YM, Yvonne Mills, Rentplus
Apologies
- CM, Chris Moore, Bellway Homes
- DG, Derek Godfrey, Westcotte Leach
- ES, Edward Sheath, East Sussex CC
- JB, Jonathan Buckwell, DHA Planning
- RJ, Richard Jones, East Sussex CC
- RW, Richard White, Southern Housing