Windsor & Maidenhead leader criticised over housing target request

The opposing Liberal Democrats and Independent Groups have criticised Cllr Andrew Johnson’s (Con: Hurley & Walthams) request that they can lower the council’s housing figure of 14,240 as set out in the borough local plan (BLP).

The BLP earmarks multiple sites for housing to meet the Royal Borough’s population and economic growth by 2033 and was voted through by the ruling Tories in February 2022.

The government decided in December it will scrap its mandatory 300,000 homes a year target but keep it as an advisory following fear of a Tory backbench rebellion. Cllr Johnson said the council was “paying the price” for abiding by the government’s instruction at the time.

He released the letter in full on social media sites and received heavy criticism from the opposition.

Independent leader Lynne Jones (Image: YouTube)

Independent leader Lynne Jones (OWRA: Old Windsor) and her deputy Geoff Hill (TBFI: Oldfield) said the letter “proves” that they and concerned residents were right that there is no need to build on the Green Belt sites, such as the Maidenhead Golf Course, that will “overwhelm” existing infrastructure.

They wrote: “As a local council we should question government policy where it is not to the benefit of the council and the residents, not follow it blindly and then appear to U-Turn two months before an election.”

Lib Dem leader Simon Werner (Image: YouTube)

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Simon Werner (Pinkneys Green) said it was “disgraceful electioneering” as the council leader only chose near an election to raise this issue when he was warned previously warned about the housing target changes.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), he said: “[Cllr Johnson’s] mantra for years has been build, build, build.

“[The Conservatives] wanted to maximise the number of dwellings built in Windsor and Maidenhead, sacrificing our precious Green Belt, and putting these high-rise flats in the town centre.

“That was Cllr Johnson’s number one aim for four years and now suddenly he’s knocked on a few doors for the election and has realised the residents think it’s a stupid idea and now he’s trying to save his skin.”

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“It’s clearly one of the most misleading election ploys I’ve seen,” he added.

Cllr Werner also said the council knew that it needed less housing following 2018 projections back in 2020 but decided not to lower its target, which was based on 2012 projections.

According to a letter the council sent to the planning inspector in August 2020, it originally predicted building 13,435 homes based on 2012 projections, but the 2018 projections slashed that to 6,382 homes by 2033.

Council leader Andrew Johnson (Image: YouTube)

Cllr Johnson told the LDRS that he wrote the letter to request a meeting with the Secretary of State of his “own volition and back”.

He also said it only became apparent that the government was intending to change its housing target in December, 10 months after the BLP adoption.

He also said: “The BLP was independently inspected and approved. Our numbers were calculated to include a buffer figure to allow for sites not coming forward yet to ensure that we could continue to demonstrate a five-year land supply.

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“The requirement for a five-year supply would fall away as part of the government’s proposals and we are keen to discuss what this means for RBWM.”

Cllr Johnson also defended the Maidenhead Golf Course, which is earmarked for 1,800 homes, as remaining “the most sustainable site” to meet the town’s growing population.

“We owe it to those aged generally between 18-45 years old who are increasingly locked out of the housing market to deliver these new homes,” Cllr Johnson added, “and for those on our housing waiting list, given we will see hundreds of new social rented homes come forward.”