The Government has announced plans to build 1.5 million new homes over the current Parliament. To facilitate this, changes have been made to national planning policies to support the delivery of new homes across the Country.
​
Wetherby is a highly sustainable town, identified as a ‘Major Settlement’ in the Leeds Core Strategy, with a broad array of shops and services available for the resident population.
Service and Facilities Map
Click on the above image to view a larger version
A low working age population
When compared with settlements in North Yorkshire, Wetherby has the highest proportion of residents aged over 65 but the lowest proportion of under 16s and working-age residents. New family homes will help increase the number of working-age adults and provide more homes for young people to stay in the area.
Demographic Profile / Nomis Population estimates - small area based by single year of age - England and Wales (nomisweb.co.uk)
Click on the above image to view a larger version
New Homes in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) is in the process of preparing a new Local Plan to cover the whole of the County. This plan will replace the current local plans for the former districts but is not expected to be in place until at least 2028.
In preparing this plan NYC will be required to allocate land to deliver at least 4,077 new homes each year. This is 64% more homes than was accommodated in the former districts’ local plans.
This will require NYC to identify additional sites for housing development. This will include areas where previous planning policy would have indicated that residential development was not appropriate at the time these plans were made. The areas on the edge of sustainable settlements can be suitable locations to deliver these homes.
Housing Profile / Yorkshire wide and Harrogate increase
Click on the above image to view a larger version
Excellent Employment Opportunites
Despite the low working age population Wetherby has a high level of employment opportunities, resulting in high levels of commuting into the town. Additional homes will provide opportunities for people to live closer to where they work, and benefit from the excellent sustainable travel options in and around the town.
Employment Profile / Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) (2022)
Click on the above image to view a larger version