Nick Bowles of the Department for Communities and Local Government has written a letter to the Planning Inspectorate expressing his concern about an Inspector's comments in respect of the Reigate and Banstead Local Plan.
His letter can be seen by clicking on the 2nd button below.
He stresses that any incorporation in the Local Plan of changes to Green Belt boundaries or allowing building on Green Belt is for the Local Authority to decide.
But on the other hand we know that the Government's Planning Inspectorate has to assess the Local Plan and has in the past rejected it because it did not include sufficient consideration of building on Green Belt
Having reviewed the Inspectors report on the RBWM’s first attempt at a Local Plan, when the Plan was rejected due to insufficient consideration being given to building on Green Belt, I conclude that the Inspector in that case should also have been rebuked by Nick Bowles, and had this been done, RBWM would not be in the position of having to demonstrate their consideration of Green Belt, nor would we residents have to be fighting against it.
Relevant questions are - Is RBWM too much influenced by Central Government? Who is driving the current Local Plan, the people, through their elected Councillors, or Central Government through the bureaucracy within RBWM? Or is it an overzealous RBWM Planning Councillor and his team of planners?
You can also see more of what Mr Bowles has to say at the first button.
His letter can be seen by clicking on the 2nd button below.
He stresses that any incorporation in the Local Plan of changes to Green Belt boundaries or allowing building on Green Belt is for the Local Authority to decide.
But on the other hand we know that the Government's Planning Inspectorate has to assess the Local Plan and has in the past rejected it because it did not include sufficient consideration of building on Green Belt
Having reviewed the Inspectors report on the RBWM’s first attempt at a Local Plan, when the Plan was rejected due to insufficient consideration being given to building on Green Belt, I conclude that the Inspector in that case should also have been rebuked by Nick Bowles, and had this been done, RBWM would not be in the position of having to demonstrate their consideration of Green Belt, nor would we residents have to be fighting against it.
Relevant questions are - Is RBWM too much influenced by Central Government? Who is driving the current Local Plan, the people, through their elected Councillors, or Central Government through the bureaucracy within RBWM? Or is it an overzealous RBWM Planning Councillor and his team of planners?
You can also see more of what Mr Bowles has to say at the first button.