PLANNING FRAMEWORK
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1993
THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROVISION OF HOUSING UP TO THE YEAR 2000-01. THE STRATEGY IS DEMAND- LED; THAT IS, SUPPLY IS ADJUSTED ΤΟ MEET DEMAND. CONTRARY TO DETERMINED MISUNDERSTANDING OR MISREPRESENTATION OR BOTH, THE CURRENT APPROACH DOES NOT PRESUPPOSE A FIXED SUPPLY PATTERN AND INCLUDES A REVIEW MECHANISM TO ENSURE THAT CHANGES IN DEMAND ARE ASSESSED, SHORTFALLS IN SUPPLY IDENTIFIED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT AND PLANS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION ARE PUT IN PLACE.
THE ANNUAL REVIEWS OF THE HOUSING SCENE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO CHANGES IN MANY FACTORS, INCLUDING AFFORDABILITY, REHOUSING PREFERENCES, REDEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, CLEARANCE PROGRAMMES AND WAITING LIST REQUIREMENTS. THEY ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LATEST CENSUS STATISTICS, POPULATION PROJECTIONS, SURVEY RESULTS, ECONOMIC INDICATORS AND OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE. CHANGES IN ANY OF THESE FACTORS CAN RESULT IN A CHANGE IN PROJECTED DEMAND, EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF FUBLIC SECTOR FLATS. THE CONSEQUENTIAL CHANGES ΤΟ LAND REQUIREMENTS ARE ALSO IDENTIFIED TO MEET NEW PUBLIC HOUSING PRODUCTION TARGETS. THE LAND IMPLICATIONS ARE FED INTO THE STRATEGIC
PLANNING AND LAND RESERVATION PROCESSES.
OVERALL LAND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALSO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED UNDER THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY. THESE ARE MONITORED BY THE LAND AND BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH PROVIDES A FORUM FOR DISCUSSION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE COMMITTEE ASSESSES THE LAND REQUIREMENTS AND THE SUPPLY SITUATION ANNUALLY FOR THE COMING TEN YEARS FOR ALL DIFFERENT USES. ACTION IS TAKEN TO MEET SHORTFALLS BY SCHEDULING NEW PRODUCTION OR REZONING LAND FROM CATEGORIES IN SURPLUS.
A MECHANISM FOR IDENTIFYING, MONITORING AND REVIEWING CHANGING HOUSING NEEDS AND OTHER LAND REQUIREMENTS ALREADY EXISTS, THEREFORE, WHICH HAS WORKED WELL. SINCE 1985-86, OVER 600,000 NEW FLATS HAVE BERN PRODUCED, OR AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF OVER 76,000 FLATS. PUBLIC HOUSING ACCOUNTED FOR OVER 350,000 FLATS, OR APPROACHING 44,000 FLATS A YEAR ON AVERAGE, CONTRIBUTING TO OVER HALF OF TOTAL FLAT PRODUCTION.
THE CURRENT TARGET UNDER THE LONG TERM HOUSING STRATEGY IS TO PRODUCE 45,000 PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS A YEAR. THIS WILL BE COMPLEMENTED BY THE 35,000 OR SO PRIVATE SECTOR FLATS TO BE BUILT EACH YEAR. BUT, AS I HAVE ALREADY EXPLAINED, THESE TARGETS WILL BE REVIEWED REGULARLY TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES
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CANNOT EMPHASISE TOO STRONGLY THAT WE ARE FACED WITH A DYNAMIC, NOT A STATIC SITUATION. THE TARGET IS A CONSTANTLY MOVING ONE. FOR INSTANCE, OVER THE YEARS, THE PUBLIC HOUSING NET HAS BEEN CAST GRADUALLY WIDER EACH YEAR AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS REVISED INCOME LIMITS AND OTHER ELIGIBILITY RULES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MORE LAND IS REQUIRED AND SOME LEAD TIME 18 NECESSARY ΤΟ IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SITES. "SHORTFALLS" MAY EMERGE, BUT THESE ARE GENERALLY ONLY VERY SHORTLIVED.
/WE ALSO