A consultation relating to the first phase of the Liverpool City Region spatial development strategy concluded on 1 February. The consultation focused on development management type policies that would apply across the city-region when the strategy is adopted in 2023. HBF’s response can be read here.
The consultation did not include any details on how housing requirements would be managed, but HBF understands that it is the Combined Authority’s intention to agree that each local authority should meet its own housing needs. There will be no redistribution of an aggregate housing requirement across the city-region. This contrasts with the approach in London, Greater Manchester and the West of England. The advantage is that this approach will make it easier for the plan to progress to adoption, as there will be no redistribution of housing numbers from inner city wards in Liverpool City to outer-lying suburban areas in local authorities like St Helens, Sefton and Knowsley. Conversely, the plan could result in housing numbers being left unplanned for, if green belt constrained authorities refuse to review their green belt boundaries.