Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)
(Link to NHDC website document)
This document was written following public consultation and considers the amount of land that is available for housing development, with particular emphasis on demonstrating that there is sufficient land available to meet future housing targets. In simple terms there are two types of site identified: those suggested by NHDC and additional sites promoted by landowners and others for NHDC to consider. The latter are not Council proposals, however the Council has assessed each of the sites in the SHLAA to determine whether they are suitable, available and achievable for development. The formal process for choosing which of these sites, if any, are allocated for development is the Local Plan and this could be influenced by a relevant neighbourhood plan, such as Pirton's, if the community wishes.
The information provided in the SHLAA includes the official NHDC Assessment of all sites and they include three plots in Pirton (see plans).*2 Here is a summary of the assessment for these sites:
- The three Pirton sites are:
- Site 214 Holwell Turn, West Lane (now referred to as Site PT2).
- Site 64N Land east of Priors Hill (North).
- Site 64S Land east of Priors Hill (South) (now referred to as Site PT1).
- All three sites are ranked as "Category C = currently classed as rural area beyond the green belt"
- For one site (64N) the NHDC achievability comments are "Achievability of unsuitable / unavailable sites not considered." They further comment on suitability "Development here considered to have too great an impact on setting of listed buildings and conservation area."
- For the other two (214 and 64S) the NHDC achievability comments are "Greenfield site with no obvious factors that would influence viability." and there are also specific suitability comments:
- 214 (now PT2) - "Site capable of delivering residential development. Outside existing village boundary. Not previously developed land."
- 64S (now PT1) - "Site capable of delivering residential development. Outside existing village boundary. Not previously developed land. Adjoins Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."
The SHLAA estimates that these two sites in Pirton could accommodate 135 houses and could come forward in the period 2019 - 2024.