Edward Ware Homes Ltd v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government & Anor

Suzanne Ornsby Q.C. and George Mackenzie (instructed by Davies and Partners) for the Claimant Hereward Phillpot Q.C. (instructed by Treasury Solicitor) for the First Defendant The Second Defendant was not represented Hearing dates: 7th December 2015 ____________________

Policy DW1(2) makes provision for (inter alia) "an increase in the supply of housing by around 13,000 homes" in the district as a whole. Policy DW1(3) prioritises "the use of brownfield opportunities for new development in order to limit the need for development on greenfield sites."

However, the Core Strategy recognises that in order to meet housing requirements and facilitate economic growth some greenfield land is also required.

Paragraph 4.09 identifies a number of challenges and strengths for the Somer Valley. There are "high levels of out-commuting due to lack of local employment opportunities" and a "high level of existing housing commitments of about 2,470 dwellings, exacerbating imbalance of housing over jobs". As against those factors, the Somer Valley enjoys "relative lower cost of housing compared to elsewhere in the district".

(i) Under policy DW1 there is a need for 13,000 new homes across the district over the plan period 2011 � 2019. It was common ground that because of the under-delivery of housing which had previously occurred, the 5 year land supply requirement had to be increased by 20% (DL 5);