Planning inspectors have called for a 24% increase in the number of new homes proposed for the south west region in the 20 years to 2026, writes Mark Smulian. This would mean that 569,450 homes would be built, against the 459,550 proposed by the regional assembly. The increase came when a panel of inspectors reviewed the assembly’s initial plan. <br><br>There will be a further consultation round in the spring. Some areas have been lined up for startlingly high increases on the assembly’s original building proposals – 145% at Purbeck and 123% at Torridge for example. The assembly had felt that sustainability concerns meant new homes should be concentrated in existing towns and cities to minimise commuting from rural areas. But some rural councils opposed this approach, as they feared they had been allocated too few private homes to support the affordable housing they need to get through section 106 deals. This has meant a sharply mixed response for the inspectors’ proposal. North Dorset council welcomed its 33% increase to 7,000 new homes. <br><br>Council leader Peter Webb said this “reflects almost exactly what we lobbied for. It provides, in our view, a sustainable level of growth and development for our rural …