D3.S1 We support an integrated housing policy that promotes urban regeneration within sustainable development principles, with high quality housing, mixed communities, and supported by integrated modes of transport, provided environmental impacts are assessed, minimised and mitigated.

D3.S2 There is no justification for a setting a target of only 60% of additional housing to be provided on previously developed land. A target of 75% should be set, following current trends. The principles set out in PPG3 regarding the sequential search for previously developed land before greenfield is allocated, and re-use of excess commercial sites for new housing or mixed use, will assist to achieve such a target and need to be stated within the housing polices. The principles regarding sustainable location of housing as set out in PPG3 need to be expressly incorporated into the Plan.

D3.S3 In absence of justified statistics, the 29,000 backlog of housing need appears to be overstated and needs to be reduced - subject to review after obtaining consistent data of housing need from across the region and establishing the locations of highest need. The 'backlog' should not be allowed to put more demand onto ambitious targets.

D3.S4 Affordable housing numbers should be separated from market housing numbers and stated as a specific target figure. A target should then be stated for delivery through housing associations by way of non-market affordable housing, with grant from the Housing Corporation or by grant free development.

D3.S5 The delivery of affordable housing should not be reliant on provision of an excess of market housing.

D3.S6 To be consistent with "plan, monitor, manage" any housing numbers allocated to Districts for periods after 2011, and certainly after 2016, should be indicative only at this stage and not require housing allocation to be made within LDFs. There should be clear "breakpoints" within the Plan for a full review of the housing numbers in light of changed circumstances.

D3.S7 The criteria identified as the basis for distribution of housing numbers to Districts do not take account of important constraints and opportunities that should influence housing distribution.

D3.S8 The location of housing outside urban areas should support rural communities that are sustainable. Housing in rural areas must maintain and enhance local distinctiveness and meet the housing, social and economic needs of rural communities.

D3.S9 It needs to be made clear that a regional target of 40 dph will be made up of higher density schemes in cities and town centres and also lower density schemes where justified by local character.

Housing Numbers

D3.S10 The numbers of new dwellings must be judged in terms of environmental capacity of the South East. Due to development over the last fifty years, this is now strictly limited.

D3.S11 The Continuation of Existing Policy Spatial Option would have serious consequences for the countryside of Hampshire, and be contrary to principles of sustainable development and the environmental capacity of the Hampshire countryside to absorb it. There needs to be a focus on major urban areas in need of regeneration, but Spatial Option 2 (Sharper Focus) does not provide this. Much more technical work needs to be done on this option to meet the actual needs of the region and to protect rural areas from development. This needs to be combined with substantial revisions to the boundaries of the sub-regions to focus on the main urban areas.

D3.S12 25,500 additional dwellings per year across the Region could accommodate most real affordable housing need and allow some new market housing. It provides a maximum number of new dwellings that could be accommodated in Hampshire within the major urban areas, current settlement policy boundaries and Local Plan allocations, and should be the highest option considered within the South East Plan.