The
Local Plan – What Next?
You
may be aware, if you are interested, that last week the Council decided that
the plan prepared by the planning officers did comply with the guidelines set
by National Planning Policy and as a consequence agreed that the next stage
should be started.
The
Cabinet had decided that the plan put to the Government Inspector needed to be
sound as it was thought vital by all Groups on the Council that we do get a
plan agreed by the government. As we have explained earlier, not to have a plan
offers no protection to green fields however allocated.
At
the Council meeting the Liberal/Democrats and the Conservatives argued that the
plan was not “Political” enough, and they had not been given the opportunity to
change the recommendations in their own wards. Though we then listened to pleas
to take out allocations we were given no indication as to where the allocations
would be moved to. For instance the Conservatives argued that two of the
largest allocations should be removed, they didn’t say that the only way land
for the 6,000 homes would probably have to be found in Conservative wards.
There
will now be a period of where the plan will be tested as to “soundness” (does
it comply with Govt. guidelines), this will take us into the New Year. If no
snags are found it will then be passed to the Government who will employ a
Planning Inspector who will hold public hearings, probably through the summer,
where anyone can argue about the plan in general or about specific sites.
At
this stage, no doubt there will be people arguing for sites to be excluded or included.
We hope the Inspector will deliver his findings at the back end of the year, if
he does the Council will be asked to confirm the plan early 2018.
If
that all happens, that does not mean any site has planning permission, all it
does is remove in some cases and impose in others reasons to allow the Planners
or the Planning committee the right to oppose development. Sites will still
have to meet all the requirements set out in planning guidance, such as access
requirements and infrastructure requirements.
This
plan is supposed to last for 15 years. If development occurs at a faster rate
than anticipated, we will have to go through the process again sooner than
planned. If development does not happen at the anticipated rate the process
could be delayed, but it must be clear without something drastic that causes a
decline in population the land will be developed eventually.
