Planning is always an emotive issue - the need for affordable housing, new business investment, and energy demands must be balanced with the need to conserve the environment, and minimise the impact of development on people's lives.
On planning, the Government has promised to 'devolve greater power and freedoms to local government and community groups through the Localism Act'. This has yet to become a reality: Large corporations and developers can effectively ignore decisions made by local councils by appealing unfavourable outcomes in the high court, which is exactly what UK coal have done with the Bradley surface mine application, over in County Durham. The initial decision of the planning inspector to listen to local concerns and refuse planning permission has been quashed in the High Court. I'm part of the Whittonstall action group who are opposing a similar development near Whittonstall first school. The worry is that if Northumberland County Council listen to local concerns and recommend refusal then appeals will be lodged and the decision will be simply transferred from Northumberland to London.
This is where local plans, such as Northumberland's Core Strategy become important. The core strategy is a plan for the next 15 years that includes the designation of areas of land that can be used for particular purposes. If an area does end up being designated for housing after public consultation, it may not necessarily have houses built there, but that planning permission for a new housing development will be more likely to be granted if it is inside rather than outside this area. Long term planning is essential in both local and national government and plans that are made must go beyond our electoral cycles.
The Conservatives have missed the deadline for initial consultation which ended on January the 2nd. It is easy to make quick political points, but more difficult to make tough choices for the long term.
Local plans are the only means by which the extent and nature of development can be decided locally. By refusing to engage in the core strategy we are leaving the door open for developers to apply, be knocked back because of the strength of local feeling and then simply have the decision overturned because local strategies are not in place or not robust enough.
Hopefully, when the plan is completed, many opinions can be taken into account and the views of local residents will be have been heard.
Documents can read here (click to go to NCC core strategy page)
On planning, the Government has promised to 'devolve greater power and freedoms to local government and community groups through the Localism Act'. This has yet to become a reality: Large corporations and developers can effectively ignore decisions made by local councils by appealing unfavourable outcomes in the high court, which is exactly what UK coal have done with the Bradley surface mine application, over in County Durham. The initial decision of the planning inspector to listen to local concerns and refuse planning permission has been quashed in the High Court. I'm part of the Whittonstall action group who are opposing a similar development near Whittonstall first school. The worry is that if Northumberland County Council listen to local concerns and recommend refusal then appeals will be lodged and the decision will be simply transferred from Northumberland to London.
This is where local plans, such as Northumberland's Core Strategy become important. The core strategy is a plan for the next 15 years that includes the designation of areas of land that can be used for particular purposes. If an area does end up being designated for housing after public consultation, it may not necessarily have houses built there, but that planning permission for a new housing development will be more likely to be granted if it is inside rather than outside this area. Long term planning is essential in both local and national government and plans that are made must go beyond our electoral cycles.
The Conservatives have missed the deadline for initial consultation which ended on January the 2nd. It is easy to make quick political points, but more difficult to make tough choices for the long term.
Local plans are the only means by which the extent and nature of development can be decided locally. By refusing to engage in the core strategy we are leaving the door open for developers to apply, be knocked back because of the strength of local feeling and then simply have the decision overturned because local strategies are not in place or not robust enough.
Hopefully, when the plan is completed, many opinions can be taken into account and the views of local residents will be have been heard.
Documents can read here (click to go to NCC core strategy page)
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