COUNCILLORS have agreed to investigate using ‘hard data’ when producing the local plan for Basingstoke and Deane, instead of using data that will be 15 years old when it is published.

Government calculations suggest as many as 17,820 new homes need to be built in Basingstoke and Deane by the end of 2039 and council documents reveal that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) need to build 7,703 houses more than they currently have in the pipeline.

It's part of the update process of a document called the local plan, which sets the rules surrounding the development of the borough and can be used by developers as a blueprint on where and how to build houses.

SEE ALSO: Housing debate: Councillors continue to debate the number of houses to be build in Basingstoke

At a meeting of the borough council’s economic, planning and housing committee in September 2021, councillors unanimously voted in favour of rejecting the number of new homes, which is set under the government’s standard methodology procedure.

It has since been revealed that the figures had been calculated using the Standard Method, which use data which is 13 years out of date.

At a council meeting, last week councillors unanimously agreed to explore using data from the 2021 Census, which is becoming available.

Presenting the motion Cllr Paul Harvey said the current local plan is “fundamentally flawed”.

He said: “We say there is a better approach when we know that data on the current plan is fundamentally flawed and is 13 years out of date.

"2021 census data will be available on time for us to take a different route. The 2021 data is based on interviews and surveys from people, and it is genuine data. Let’s shape our plan going forward with hard data.”

Many councillors gave their support

Cllr Samuel Carr, added: “In perusing every option, I am pleased to support this motion to support any route that allows us to develop a sound plan that delivers a lower housing number.”

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Meanwhile, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group shared some reservations.

He said: “I speak in support of the motion clearly you need to identify the housing need for the borough based on the latest data but I am concerned about the motive.

“If you go cherry-picking to find the number that you want to hear you are failing the people of Basingstoke and Deane and we need to meet the needs of Basingstoke."

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