Proposed Housing and Mixed-Use Site Allocations

2. Meeting Identified Need

Local Housing Need

2.1 The government's Standard Method in national guidance is used to determine the minimum number of homes needed for South Kesteven across the plan period.

2.2 Following the review of the Local Plan timetable in February 2025, the plan period has been amended to cover from 1st April 2023 through to 1st April 2043. This is to ensure that the plan looks forward for a minimum of 15 years from adoption which is expected in 2027 this is a requirement as set in the National Planning Policy Framework. The Governments Standard Method for South Kesteven establishes a need of 886 dwellings per annum, equating to 17,720 dwellings across the plan period 2023-2043.

2.3 Whilst the housing requirement is based on the Standard Method calculation, the Local Plan trajectory contains a buffer of around 11% above the minimum requirement of 17,720 dwellings, this equates to a housing supply of 19,672 dwellings across the plan period. The purpose of the buffer is to provide developers with a greater choice of sites and a contingency in case some which are included in the supply are not delivered within the timeframes anticipated. This should help ensure the Council delivers at least the full requirement.

2.4 The Local Plan makes provision for housing growth at a variety of locations across South Kesteven. In order to demonstrate that the allocated sites are capable of meeting the housing requirements over the plan period, the following assumptions have been made regarding density.

2.5 Planning Practice Guidance states that housing potential should be guided by local conditions, including housing densities and the sites' potential using an average development density of 30 dwellings to the hectare.

2.6 The Housing Density Study (2025) recommends, to accurately represent the current landscape of house building within the district, that density in the four main towns should be increased from 30 to 35 dwellings per hectare, and that the village densities remain at 30 dwellings per hectare. Density has also been adjusted to take account of any individual site characteristics and physical constraints. Sites with Outline planning permission have also been adjusted, in line with the permission.

2.7 When developing sites, it is usual for a proportion of the site to be given over to access roads, public open space and other ancillary uses. Site areas are recorded "gross" but to reflect the realities of development, sites have been "netted" down in order to calculate density. The larger the site, the larger the area normally given over to non-developed uses. We have therefore used the following assumptions:

• up to 1ha then 95% developable area
• between 1ha and 4ha 80% is developable area
• over 4ha then 60% developable area.

2.8 The dwelling potential of sites included in the Local Plan is indicative only; the true potential of any site will be assessed by more detailed study, having regard to many factors which are outside the scope of the Local Plan, and which need to be considered as part of the planning application process.

2.9 Some sites have been considered to have a lower density, due to their sensitive location and this is reflected in the indicative density. Again, this is not a rigid number, but it would not normally be considered that a much higher density would be appropriate in this location.

2.10 Changes to the proposed housing and mixed-use allocations are detailed below.

Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Need

2.11 The 2024 Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment identifies a need for 40 Gypsy & Traveller pitches over the plan period up to 2041. The Council launched a Call for Sites in October 2020 seeking land within the district to be considered for allocation for a range of uses, including housing, Gypsy & Traveller and employment.

2.12 Due to a limited response to the 2020 Call for Sites regarding Gypsy & Traveller sites, a second Call for Sites specifically seeking land for Gypsy & Traveller accommodation was launched alongside publication of the Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan in March 2024.

2.13 A site at Gorse Lane, Grantham was received through the Call for Sites consultation and has been assessed as suitable through the updated 2025 Site Assessment Report. The site at Gorse Lane, Grantham is proposed for allocation through the Regulation 18 Local Plan, as part of a mixed-use site.

2.14 Due to the implications of the NPPF and the change of the Local Plan's period from 2041 to 2043, the Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment is currently under review, the conclusions of which will be considered as the Local Plan evolves.

2.15 Due to the implications of the NPPF and the change of the Local Plan's period from 2041 to 2043, the Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment is currently under review, the conclusions of which will be considered as the Local Plan evolves.