Can Mole Valley un-pause its new Local Plan?
On 19th December, the Government eventually released a revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which sets the framework for creating a new Local Plan.
As expected, the new NPPF includes the policy changes announced over a year ago which reduce the obligation on local Councils to set aside Green Belt land to meet centrally-set housing targets. These were expected to be implemented last Spring but have been continually delayed. As a result, the Inspector examining Mole Valley’s draft Local Plan had agreed to put the examination on pause awaiting the new NPPF.
However, even after consulting on its changes, the Government added a last-minute sting-in-the-tail which apparently forces those Councils who had already made good progress with their plan-making to stick by the previous rules.
Chris Coghlan, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Dorking & Horley (which includes most of the Mole Valley District) says:
“The delay in updating the regulations was bad enough and was a significant factor leading an Appeals Inspector to grant the Sondes Farm development in Dorking against the wishes of local people and the local Council.
“Now the last-minute change means that Mole Valley – and other Councils who have paused their emerging Local Plans – may have to stick to rules that are regarded as obsolete elsewhere.
“This inconsistency is what we have come to expect from a Government which is on its 16th Housing Minister since 2010.”
Mole Valley District Council is expected to announce how it will proceed in the New Year.
More about Sondes Farm development
Earlier story about Local Plan