THE local authority has opposed "outrageous" new housing targets which would see the number of homes in the district increase by 124 per cent annually.

Wyre Forest District Council's cabinet discussed its response to the government's consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) at a meeting on Tuesday, September 10. 

The planned changes include reintroducing housing targets and a new method for calculating them.

For the Wyre Forest district, the current annual housing need figure agreed in the Local Plan 2022 is for 276 houses. Under the proposed new standard method, as calculated by the government, this figure rises to 617 houses per year, which is an increase of 341 properties.

The proposals state that the new targets will mean councils must "boost housebuilding in areas most in need, helping more people buy their own homes, removing the largest barriers to economic growth, and getting Britain building again". 

The council said it welcomes strategic plans but wants to have a direct say in their production.

There is concern that the proposed changes would have an adverse impact on Wyre Forest as neighbouring authorities are not meeting their housing needs. 

In particular, councillors opposed the way housing needs would be calculated.

At the meeting, leader of the council Marcus Hart said: "To have an increase from the 276 at present to the target of 617, which obviously is an increase of 341 and therefore more than double, is frankly absolutely outrageous".

Councillor Tracey Onslow said: "We had uproar at 276, what on earth is this going to do? I don't know about building in the right places we are going to have to build in the right places, the wrong places, all over the places because where are they going to go?

"Where are the extra ambulances coming from? Where are the extra hospital places? Where are the extra SEND places?"

Councillor Fran Oborski, of the overview and scrutiny committee, said she was "absolutely horrified" by the government's proposals.

She said: "Can you actually imagine the response from the public if we have to open up more green belt land in this district? It is simply unacceptable".