Council leader demands meeting over planning concerns

Councillor Kuldip Sahota is disappointed that the Government has failed to offer any practical assistance or advice over the NPPF and its effects on local communities.

Last week, Councillor Charles Smith, cabinet member for housing development and borough towns, met with the Housing and Planning Minister asking for reassurances that planning applications for new houses that are turned down by the Council won’t be approved on appeal by Government Planning Inspectors.

Councillor Sahota has invited Councillor Andrew Eade, leader of the Conservative group at the Council, and Councillor Bill Tomlinson, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, to accompany him when he visits the Secretary of State.

Telford & Wrekin Council has over 8,000 homes with planning permission already granted.

The Council is doing everything to protect the area and provide sustainable homes and jobs but the Government’s NPPF gives developers the upper hand through its presumption in favour of speculative development and allowing them to set the rate of building.

There are around 1,000 new homes already being completed in the borough this year, making Telford and Wrekin one of the leaders in new homes development in the Midlands.

Councillor Sahota said: “This is a very serious issue for people in this borough to be dismissed in a mere 10 minute meeting with the Planning Minister. It was made clear at the meeting that the government is not considering changing their NPPF policy, which doesn’t allow Councils to choose where developments take place.

“I feel I must now take this up with the Secretary of State. I have met Mr Pickles on previous occasions and want to meet him again to tell him about the level of anger here with the NPPF. We recognise the need for housing development here but this should be on our terms and not at the whim of developers who are only interested in making a quick return..

“We are disadvantaged by the NPPF and have been unable to get any help from Government Planning Inspectors. We are building houses as quickly as we can in the borough and it is important to consider the impact of all of these developments but this is not acknowledged in the NPPF.”