The Neighbourhood Plan now

Following the earlier article on Thoughts about Planning following the Gladman decision, I have been reminded, quite rightly, that I failed to stress the importance of the Neighbourhood Plan now underway. I am very happy to put that right.

Steve Elliott writes: "In 'reasons to be cheerful' I think that there was a missed opportunity for a comment to re-affirm the importance and urgency of the fledgling Neighbourhood Plan.

"As things stand following these decisions, its potentially the only way that Audlem can rapidly attempt to put some statutory protection in place.

"Whilst we can't now influence the number of houses on the Gladman/Heathfield sites, the professional advice that the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee have been given suggests that a Neighbourhood Plan could influence the planning issues dealt with at 'reserved matters' stage e.g. housing type.

"Given the likely possibility for small houses /affordable homes being less attractive to the developers this could be important.

"The more visible this importance is, the more response we should receive from the residents – which directly strengthens the evidence that we need to support the Plan and its policies."

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