David Rutley MP raised the concerns of Macclesfield residents about the Local Plan and the supply of future housing in our local communities during a debate on planning and housing supply in the House of Commons on Thursday 24th October.
The Macclesfield MP set out local concerns about issues relating to the latest developments with the Local Plan that could have a lasting impact on the shape of our communities. David asked the Planning Minister, Nick Boles MP, whether Cheshire East Council and other councils across the country were actually required to set out how they would achieve indicative house building targets to 2050, rather than just focus on the current 2030 Local Plan time horizon. He pointed out that any requirement to achieve 2050 targets would lead to large areas of “green-belt” being so-called “safeguarded” for development, including land in Poynton and south-west Macclesfield, where up to 3,000 houses could be developed. David went on to say that he was very concerned that this approach could also lead to hundreds of local residents becoming victims of planning blight.
The Minister was clear in his reply stating that the planning horizon was definitely to 2030 and that there were no requirements to plan beyond this period. He said, “...anybody who is suggesting that there is any requirement to safeguard land...for the future development between 2030 and 2050 is getting it wrong.” This clarification will be very important in helping to take pressure off proposals for future development on green-belt land in and around Macclesfield beyond 2030.
David also asked the Minister to send planning experts to east Cheshire to give advice to Cheshire East Council to ensure that the Local Plan can be completed as speedily as possible to help stop unwanted speculative housing developments, which are a growing concern in many communities in the area. In his reply, the Minister said that he would send relevant experts from his Department, which could include the former Chief Planning Inspector, to Cheshire to assist with this important task.
After the debate, David said, “I was pleased to have the chance to set out the concerns of many local residents on this vitally important issue. I am committed to working to protect our green-belt. It is essential that we get answers to key questions as there are a number of issues that have needed to be clarified in recent months. I am pleased that the Minister’s response means that there will be less pressure to “safeguard” green-belt for development after 2030 and that the Council will be getting extra expert advice to assist in finalising the Local Plan.”
A transcript of the debate can be found here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131024/hal…