Planning: Parish Council and MP

Audlem Parish Council recently wrote to our local MP, Antoinette Sandbach, reminding her that it had not received an acknowledgement from her to the copy of our letter to the Prime Minister of 18 January 2016.

She has now responded, stating that APC should have raised these issues:
i. excessive influence of developers on Local and Neighbourhood Plans
ii what 'sustainability' means in practice
iii. favourable consideration to 'affordable housing' to buy,
directly with her if it wanted to achieve a satisfactory answer rather than depend upon David Cameron's office.

Ms Sandbach went on to refute the implication that she had taken no action on this matter and explained she had personally made a number of representations to Brandon Lewis, the Minister for Housing and Planning.

Furthermore, said she had recently signed and supported an amendment tabled to the Housing Bill calling both for a third right of appeal to allow communities to challenge planning decisions and another requiring local councils to consider the impacts on communities in terms of infrastructure.

Ms Sandbach has sent links to a website – theyworkforyou.com

The links serve to confirm her activity in the House of Commons.  She advised that Councillors and residents may access such links to keep abreast of her activities in Parliament. Ms Sandbach also said that she would be prepared to attend a forum of Eddisbury Parish Councils on the matters raised in our letter should Audlem Parish Council be prepared to set it up.

The Parish Council advised our MP that it had chosen to approach the Prime Minister's office direct as our former MP, Stephen O'Brien, had stated that he had no influence on policy matters. APC has indicated that it would now be prepared to work through our MP as she has confirmed that she can obtain the answers required.  

APC clarified the forum proposed was for Cheshire East Town and Parish Councils and their relevant MPs who are fighting developer pressure brought about by the current absence of a suitable Local Plan and an approved 5 year Housing Land Supply.

Audlem Parish Council confirmed that it would be willing to assist in the arrangement of such a wide-ranging meeting of Cheshire East MPs and parish councillors.

A further response from her has also been received quoting part of the very recent changes to the National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG). This appears to indicate that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) paragraphs 14 and 198 would continue to uphold the material importance of a made Neighbourhood Plan when there is no deliverable 5 year supply of housing sites in place to support it.

It has been noted by Audlem's parish councillors that other aspects of these recent changes to the NPPG appear to conflict with this, stating that a made Neighbourhood Plan is 'out of date' without such a 5 year supply.

Councillors will keep residents updated as and when there is any further correspondence on this subject.

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