Inskip with Sowerby Neighbourhood Plan – Housing Need
As you are aware, Wyre Council is currently preparing its new Local Plan. This will
provide the planning framework for the future development of the Borough, up to
2040, including the identification of land for development and protection. When
published, it will replace the Borough’s current planning policies.
In June 2025, following the approval of the Inskip Neighbourhood Plan area (in April
2025), Inskip with Sowerby Parish Council wrote to Wyre Council to formally request
a housing need figure, to allow the Parish Council to consider the allocation of
housing within the emerging Neighbourhood Plan.
Wyre Council’s discussions with the Parish Council, to date, have indicated that the
Parish may subsequently request that the Wyre Local Plan delegate responsibility to
the Neighbourhood Plan to allocate development within the Parish.
An indicative minimum housing need figure of 150 net additional dwellings, over the
plan period (2022-2040) for the emerging local plan, has been established for the
Inskip with Sowerby Parish area.
In arriving at the indicative housing need figure, the Council has given consideration
to the emerging evidence and work is underway to establish a development strategy
for Wyre Borough. The figure does not consider constraints within the Borough, or at
an individual parish scale, and further evidence for the Local Plan is still emerging, at
this stage. The indicative housing figure provided, will be kept under review and
revised accordingly, as the Local Plan progress.
Since Inskip Parish Council’s formal request for a housing need figure, a report has
been taken to the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder. I write to
inform the Parish Council of the Portfolio Holder’s decision to approve the 150
minimum housing need figure for the Inskip with Sowerby Parish area.
This figure of 150 dwellings is indicative, as Wyre Council is yet to determine the
overall housing requirement for the emerging Local Plan, taking account of matters
such as unmet housing need and supporting evidence base. Once determined, the
emerging Local Plan will identify a draft development strategy, including the preferred
approach to the distribution of housing need between settlements and sites.
Wyre Council will continue to engage with the Parish Council to ensure general
conformity between the emerging Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan, and to
provide assistance in the Neighbourhood Planning process.
It is Wyre Council’s understanding that Inskip Parish Council will be delivering the
150 dwellings in Inskip, and as such the Local Plan would show a minimum of 150
dwellings in the Inskip area (notwithstanding the Parish would be looking into the
details of location of the dwellings ).
Work on the Local Plan is ongoing and is progressing to the published timetable as
shown on the Council’s website (search for Local Development Scheme). The
consultation is due to start in March 2026 and over the summer the Council will be
working towards publication. If the Parish Council decides not to allocate housing
development to meet the Local Plan need assigned to the parish in full, or should
work on the Neighbourhood Plan not adequately progress, there is a high risk that
there could be a situation where neither the Local Plan nor the Neighbourhood Plan
are allocating in the area, and therefore Inskip could be in a position where
speculative (unplanned) planning applications could be received.
It is therefore important that the 150 dwellings are planned for, either through the
Neighbourhood Plan, by the Parish, or alternatively, if the Parish does not wish to
take this forward, by Wyre Council through its Local Plan.
Could you please advise with an update on the progress of your Neighbourhood
Plan. Ultimately if your Neighbourhood Plan is not going to progress, for the Local
Plan to accommodate the growth, Wyre Council would need this information by the 1
July 2026. This will stand all parties in the strongest position in terms of plan-led
development.
Wyre Council welcomes continuous ongoing engagement with the Parish Council.