By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

No new sites have been allocated for development in Southampton for 14 years, the public planning inquiry into refused plans for homes on former St Mary’s School playing fields has heard.

Local planning authorities are required to update details every year on the land that is available as part of a process to show whether it will be able to meet housing targets.

This five-year housing land supply was the focus of evidence on the second day of a planning inquiry on Wednesday, November 6.

The inquiry relates to a scheme for the former St Mary’s Independent School playing fields, which is not allocated for development in local planning policy.

While appellant Sovereign Network Group (SNG), who wants to build 84 homes on the site in Bitterne Park, and the council agree that the five-year land supply is not being met, there was a disagreement to the extent of the problem.

The developer said the authority can show only a 2.5-year supply, compared to 2.9 in the council’s case.

The inquiry heard that the council last brought forward new site allocations for development in 2010.

Christopher Young KC, legal representative for SNG, asked council strategic planning manager Amber Trueman if this was an acceptable situation.

“I would agree, it is not preferable,” Ms Trueman said.

When pressed on the subject, she said: “Is it acceptable for a local planning authority not to have allocated land across a 14-year period? Sometimes, yes.

“If there is sufficient land allocated and deliverability is correct and in line, I think there could be situations.

“I’m not willing to say it’s absolutely unacceptable. I think it depends on the situations and the circumstances.”

In relation to the situation in Southampton, Ms Truman said she agreed when asked if there was an unacceptable failure of allocating land for development.

Mr Young KC said it was the fault of the councillors, not officers, when residents did not like unallocated sites like the one in the appeal come forward for development.

The appellant’s barrister said the delivery of housing in the city had been “diminishing”, with a “rapid deterioration” of the five-year land supply.

The dispute over the scale of this centred on whether the proposed development of the gas works site near St Mary’s Stadium, which is yet to receive full planning permission, should be included in the supply and the weighting given to the co-living accommodation Olleco scheme in Crescent Road.

There was also disagreement over the method used to calculate the small sites windfall allowance – sites of up to nine homes that are not identified in a development plan.

Witness on behalf of appellant Benjamin Pycroft said he could not see the council delivering a five-year housing land supply in the foreseeable future.

Mr Pycroft, director of Emery Planning said two major schemes with planning approval had not started construction – Debenhams and Toys R Us – and two sites had seen some completion but both had stalled after developer Inland Homes was liquidated.

Asked for his view on the state of housing delivery in Southampton, Mr Pycroft said it was “worrying” in terms of figures to date and the forward supply.

SNG’s appeal concerns a proposal to build 84 homes on land to the rear of what was St Mary’s Independent School.

Members of the council’s planning and rights of way panel rejected the scheme at a meeting in March.

The proposed development features eight one-bed flats, 24 two-bed flats, 27 two-bed houses, 22 three-bed houses and three four-bed houses.

Government-appointed planning inspector John Longmuir is expected to hear evidence in the inquiry, which is taking place at the Civic Centre, until the latter stage of next week.

He will then consider all of the material before him before reaching his decision, which will be published online in writing at a later date.