Paying the price for prestige
Future generations of residents are being forced out of Southwell because of high property costs caused by the town’s popularity.
An inquiry considering the future growth of Southwell was told the town had a chronic affordability crisis in its housing market.
Mr Mike Evans, of John Church Planning Consultancy, said: “It has reached the point where the next generation living in Southwell cannot stay in the town.
“It is forced to move out of the town. That cannot be healthy for any community.”
Mr Evans said the situation had been exacerbated by high house prices, driven not only by the character of the town but also the popularity of The Minster School.
The issue was raised during the inquiry into Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Core Strategy, which suggests 294 houses could be built in Southwell by 2026.
Developers represented at the inquiry felt Southwell could take more development.
However, further development has been opposed by the town council, a stance supported by 97% of residents who responded to a town forum survey.
Mr Mike Downes, of Antony Aspbury Associates, representing Knightwood Developments, said the town had been constrained by a cautious approach to housing provision.
“We are now entering a position of unprecedented growth throughout the district in terms of numbers of housing. I believe Southwell ought to be given the chance to take a larger share,” he said.
Mr Downes suggested Southwell could take around 700 new homes.
Nottingham Trent University’s representative, Mr Patrick Downes, of Harris Lamb, said Southwell was no different to other historic settlements where significant growth had been taken on without affecting the historic assets.
He said modest growth would help support local services.
The district council’s cabinet member for sustainable development and regeneration, Mr Roger Blaney, said he thought the council had got the housing allocation for Southwell about right. He agreed there was an affordability crisis, but said it could be dealt with by the housing market.
“The market can provide and will provide small-size properties to meet the need of those growing up in Southwell who wish to remain within the town,” he said.
“It is wholly unacceptable for any community to be saying, ‘Rear your children, educate your children in this community, but then put them on their bike and send them somewhere else.’”
He tried to dispel fears that more development would spoil the character of the town.
“This council has not done anything in recent years to endanger the character of Southwell, and will not do so in the future,” he said.
Two Southwell town and district councillors, Mr Brendan Haigh and Mr Peter Harris, put forward the case against development.
They said development was constrained by the town’s rural setting and unspoilt surrounding landscape, its historic character, its lack of employment opportunities, weak infrastructure, and limited places in its schools.
Mr Harris said residents in Southwell and nearby villages were committed to using the town’s shops.
“Because of the commitment of residents we now seem to be given the chance to take a greater share. The town does not want that chance thank you very much,” he said.
Mr Harris said rather than be constrained by negativity, it was a positive choice by the town not to take more development.
He said the district council and housing market had failed to provide affordable housing in Southwell.
Of the houses built in the last two decades 89% had at least four bedrooms, said Mr Harris.
The examination’s inspector, Mr Nigel Payne, will visit Southwell to look at the issues raised. He is due to present a report by February.