(a)

the Plan for Homes was a work in progress initiative aimed at facilitating a transformational step change in housing delivery;

(b)

Plymouth’s population was increasing by 1000 every year as a result of more births than deaths and an ageing population;

(c)

several thousand young people moved to Plymouth every year taking up the educational offer; the 18-24 age-group was the only age-group increasing in Plymouth;

(d)

the recent Census showed that there was a deficit of people in Plymouth aged in their 30s;

(e)

between 2002-2009 there was a net influx of 352 people, with 294 leaving Plymouth;

(f)

there were only 10 properties in Plymouth that had a Council Tax Band ‘H’;

(g)

officers were carrying out a Strategic Land Availability Assessment in order to help provide more affordable housing across the city;

(h)

provisions could be placed on development sites to ensure that the types of housing, numbers of housing and quality of housing was appropriate;

(i)

officers were encouraging investors to invest in Plymouth;

(j)

significant purchases of land would have to go through full council;

(k)

the Plymouth Plan would contain information regarding the future development of land and the process by which developments would take place;

(l)

the Plymouth Plan would cover the period 2014 to 2031;

(m)

it was anticipated that some areas of currently undeveloped land would need to be developed in order to help meet the housing need in Plymouth;

(n)

a mix of homes was required and planned to suit the different needs of people in Plymouth;

(o)

officers noted concerns raised that the initial plan to ‘waive S106 requirements’ to unlock stalled sites would need to be carefully managed and should instead say ‘negotiate’; officers noted that Councillors considered there should be more of an attempt made from the Council to get a S106 contribution in order to help communities and local infrastructure;

(p)

officers noted comments regarding the importance of the neighbourhood plan process influencing future policy and development;

(q)

the Plymouth Plan would be consulted upon and a convention would be held to engage with communities;

(r)

research was currently taking place regarding the Density Bonus and how a bonus arrangement could to incentivise developers yet not affect the quality of homes being built;

(s)

320 homes at the Sherford Development were within the border of the city; Plymouth would benefit from the new homes bonus for these houses. officers were still in discussions regarding the nomination rights to the affordable homes in the entire Sherford development;

(t)

commercial land and development was also important; Government had introduced a provision where converting commercial property to residential use would not need planning permission; concerns had been expressed by many authorities that this could impact on jobs;

(u)

the strategic needs assessment would identify the size, requirements and number of properties required;

(v)

there was a 15 year life expectancy difference between the PL1 and PL9 postcodes in Plymouth;

(w)

officers confirmed that all Councillors would have access to the Strategic Needs Assessment once it was ready; it was confirmed that it would be uploaded to the Council’s website and the Members’ Room webpage;

(x)

officers confirmed that more information on the neighbourhood planning process would be submitted to Committee Members;

(1)

all Councillors would have access to the Strategic Housing Market Needs Assessment once it was ready; it was confirmed that it would be uploaded to the Council’s website and the Members’ Room webpage;

(2)

further consideration is given to the Neighbourhood Planning process;

(3)

that a report detailing progress with the Plan for Homes is submitted to a future meeting following Cabinet.