Council reacts to government intervention over Local Plan

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst OBE yesterday (Wednesday) received a letter from Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, directing the council to include seven sites in its draft plan which had previously been ruled out.

Cllr Giles-Medhurst said: “I am extremely disappointed to have received this direction from the government. We have produced a detailed and robust plan, backed-up by expert evidence. The council has been working very hard to protect our precious green belt and this direction will put many sites, which the council would want to save, now at risk of development.

“The council is being directed to change the Local Plan which had already been agreed by a meeting of the Full Council in January. We are now requesting a meeting with the minister to discuss this matter.”

The council is taking advice and considering its next steps and will formally respond shortly.