LETTER: HDC sets itself up to fail on housing

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HDC’s 20 year housing target is being raised to 750 new houses per annum, based on the un-elected Planning Inspector’s (PI) initial findings.

Indeed, on 16th June, the PI’s office emailed a link to HDC’s updated ‘Housing Trajectory’ graph.

Unbelievably, that trajectory shows an average of 1,087 new dwellings pa, over the next eight years. That is more than double the 453 pa average in the eight years prior to the recession, when UK GDP grew at around three per cent pa.

That trajectory is unbelievable because average UK GDP growth is still running at well below three per cent pa, while the ratio between house prices and average salaries in Horsham District is around 13:1 - compared with a UK long term average of around 4:1.

Since Horsham District is the eighth most expensive place for First Time Buyers (FTBs) outside of London, they will tend to live longer with parents, or to share equity with others, because they can’t afford to buy.

Indeed, the Office of National statistics (ONS) reports that the fastest growing UK household types were ones containing two or more families and the target of 750pa clearly needs to be adjusted accordingly.

It should be obvious that developers won’t build, if FTBs can’t buy their own properties.