Council challenges the government and local MP on housing numbers

Communication between Spelthorne Borough Council and both Kwasi Kwarteng (Member of Parliament for Spelthorne) and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (now the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) regarding the Local Plan and Housing Numbers - July 2018 to November 2021

Letter/Meeting title Sender/recipient Date Subject
From (then) Leader to Kwasi Kwarteng MP July 2018 Concern raised over proposed standard method for calculating housing need, asking for this to be raised by Kwasi Kwarteng MP with the Minister, Robert Jenrick
Meeting - Spelthorne housing number (Then) Leader of the Council, the portfolio holder for the Local Plan and Strategic Planning Manager met with the Ministry of Homes, Communities and (MHCLG) 5 November 2019 (Then) Leader of the Council, Cllr Harvey, and the portfolio holder for the Local Plan, Cllr Beardsmore, and officers met with the Ministry of Homes, Communities and Local Government on 5 November to raise our concerns about the high housing figure for Spelthorne, asking for standard method to be reconsidered and hand-deliver the letter below.
From (then) Leader to Robert Jenrick (then SoS for MHCLG) 5 November 2019 Concern over how Spelthorne can meet its housing need in new Local Plan, asking for standard method to be reconsidered
From Ann Biggs (Strategic Planning Manager at Spelthorne) to Kwasi Kwarteng MP November 2019 Briefing note to accompany copy of above letter, explaining the background and current issues
From Robert Jenrick to the (then) Leader 14 February 2020 Sets out why Spelthorne needs to increase housing delivery to meet need, offering assistance on how to do so
From (then) Leader to Robert Jenrick 24 February 2020 Response to above letter, setting out challenges for Spelthorne and pointing out the lack of response to 5 November letter
From Kwasi Kwarteng MP to Daniel Mouawad (Chief Executive) 5 March 2020 Expressing his and his constituents concern about high housing numbers
From Ann Biggs to Kwasi Kwarteng MP 10 March 2020 Response to Kwasi Kwarteng's letter regarding loss of Green Belt and impact of Local Plan on Charlton Village, explaining issues over housing need and hoping his efforts with the Ministry are fruitful
From Ann Biggs to Kwasi Kwarteng MP 5 November 2020 Provided copy of Spelthorne's response to Government consultation on Planning for the Future white paper and setting out Spelthorne's concerns
(Then) Deputy Leader to Robert Jenrick (then SoS for MHCLG) 12 January 2021 Expressing disappointment that the Government scrapped the revised standard method (on 16 December 2020) which would have reduced Spelthorne's housing number from 603 homes per annum to 489
From Ann Biggs to Kwasi Kwarteng MP 27 September 2021 Urges Kwasi Kwarteng MP to meet new minister at DLUHC, Michael Gove, to discuss amending standard method for calculating housing need based on more recent household growth projections
From Cllr Nichols (current Leader) to Kwasi Kwarteng MP 23 November 2021 Sets out challenges for Spelthorne to meet housing need and why the standard method requires updating, asking for Kwasi Kwarteng to push for this with central Government

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Last modified: 19/09/2025