Rotherham Council Must Revise Local Plan Due to Rise in Housing Targets

Rotherham Council faces a new challenge as it adjusts to rising housing targets, with national rules introduced in December 2024 increasing the expected annual number of new homes from 544 to 1,111. This significant change has led planning inspectors to advise the council to develop a new plan from scratch, rather than continuing with the partially completed update. The process, which will stretch until 2029 and is expected to cost over £1 million, includes multiple rounds of public consultation and a full review of the Green Belt.

Key Takeaways:

• Rotherham Council's current target for new homes per year is 544, but national rules introduced in December 2024 have increased this figure to 1,111.
• Planning inspectors have advised the council to create a new plan from scratch due to the significant increase in housing targets.
• The new plan will be developed over four years, with key stages including public consultation, a review of the Green Belt, and submission to the Government.
• The overall cost of producing the plan is expected to exceed £1 million, with a further £77,000 required for the South Yorkshire Joint Waste Plan.
• Council officers have warned that continuing with the old plan would likely fail inspection, leading to planning appeals and reduced control over development.

Statistics:

• 544: The current target number of new homes per year in Rotherham Borough.
• 1,111: The new target number of new homes per year, introduced by national rules in December 2024.
• 2026: The year in which the new plan will begin to be developed, with a full review of the Green Belt to take place.
• 2029: The year in which the new plan is expected to be completed, with adoption by the council to follow in July of that year.
• £1 million and over: The expected overall cost of producing the plan, including £1 million for the new plan and £77,000 for the South Yorkshire Joint Waste Plan.

Sources:

• The Local Plan is the blueprint that sets out where future housing, jobs and infrastructure should be built. The borough's current target is to allow for 544 newly built homes a year, but under new national rules introduced in December 2024 that figure has risen to 1,111. (JPIMedia)
• Planning inspectors have told the council the increase is so significant that a complete new plan is needed, rather than continuing with the part-finished update. (JPIMedia)
• A timetable going before cabinet on 15 September sets out the key stages, beginning in October 2026, with two rounds of public consultation in 2027 and 2028, before submission to Government at the end of 2028. (JPIMedia)
• A full review of the Green Belt will form part of the work, after the council secured £70,000 from a Government grant to support the process. (JPIMedia)
• The overall cost of producing the plan is expected to exceed £1 million, with a further £77,000 contribution required for Rotherham's share of a new South Yorkshire Joint Waste Plan being drawn up with neighbouring councils. (JPIMedia)
• Council officers have warned that pressing on with the old work would almost certainly fail inspection, leaving Rotherham open to planning appeals and with less control over where development happens. (JPIMedia)
• By agreeing the new timetable, councillors would begin a long but unavoidable process that will ultimately decide where thousands of new homes are built across the borough. (JPIMedia)
• IMAGE: The borough's current target is to allow for 544 newly built homes a year, but under new national rules introduced in December 2024 that figure has risen to 1,111. (JPIMedia)