A Conservative councillor has criticised the Greens for failing to protect greenfield sites in its 10-year blueprint for housing.
Councillor Samer Bagaeen, a professor of planning, cited the latest census, which suggested that the population of Brighton and Hove had barely changed since 2011.
But Brighton and Hove City Council’s housing blueprint – known as the City Plan – has been based on a higher population forecast and, as a result, the council has a bigger housebuilding target.
To meet the target, the council has identified a number of controversial sites around the edge of Brighton and Hove – known as urban fringe sites.
Several of them have spurred campaigners to protest outside council meetings as councillors and officials have shaped the City Plan Part Two which is due to be adopted next month.
Councillor Bagaeen said that the council did not listen to more than 6,000 residents who signed four petitions objecting to land at Whitehawk Hill nature reserve and in Coldean Lane being earmarked for housing.
It also ignored Patcham residents who managed to persuade a government planning inspector to safeguard land next to Horsdean Recreation Ground. The loss of habitat was deemed to outweigh the benefit of 10 potential homes there.
Councillor Bagaeen said: “There are 900 homes (earmarked) for the urban fringe. It is clear to me, as a councillor, as a planner and as someone who reads data, if these were taken out of City Plan Part Two, the plan would remain intact and above housing target.
“This council does not need to take the position that it is taking on allocating land for a small number of dwellings in the urban fringe. It is a conscious choice to do so.”
But Green councillor Leo Littman, who chairs the council’s Planning Committee, defended the City Plan which will guide officials and councillors when they decide planning applications.
Councillor Littman said that the policies set out in the City Plan would “protect what needs protecting” in the years ahead.
It would give him and his colleagues a greater say in what “does and doesn’t get built” – but without it, it would be easier for developers to ride roughshod over residents’ views.
He spoke about the City Plan at a meeting of the council’s Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee at Brighton Town Hall yesterday (Thursday 15 September).
Councillor Littman said: “I’m not saying that the plan is perfect. Sadly, in at least one respect, I consider it to be far from perfect.
“I would love for us to be able to protect every single blade of grass on the city’s urban fringes from development – but we can’t.
“Councillor Bagaeen abstained.” – If he’s against the plan then why didn’t he vote against it?
Just like most Tories, they’re all bluster in the press but when it comes down to acting they bottle it.