It had been too quiet for too long. We had our suspicions!
Basildon Council had responded to the Planning Inspector's preliminary questions back in January but nothing had been heard since.
Then a week or so ago they published the latest letter from the Planning Inspector, dated 25 March. It had been sat on for around 12 weeks. The delay has been blamed on the May local elections but the previous administration had the letter for 6 weeks before those elections and the new administration 6 week since.
But considering the magnitude of what the Planning Inspector has suggested we are not surprised that this matter has been conveniently 'lost' for a while.
In effect he is asking for significant changes, new and revised evidence and a new public consultation. This stops short of throwing the plan back. But only just.
We believe this gives the Council, or more specifically our elected Councillors, a last chance to make good all that is wrong with the plan they signed off over 2.5 years ago. It was wrong and out of date then. It certainly is out of date now, and still proposes excessive and damaging development right across the borough but very much so in and around Billericay where 2,700 houses will see over 150 hectares of Green Belt being lost. There is no need for this.
We are working on our next steps and will provide a further update very soon.
For now, please consider the Planning Inspector's words and proposals in his letter which can be found here;
PlanningInspectorResponse
Basildon Council had responded to the Planning Inspector's preliminary questions back in January but nothing had been heard since.
Then a week or so ago they published the latest letter from the Planning Inspector, dated 25 March. It had been sat on for around 12 weeks. The delay has been blamed on the May local elections but the previous administration had the letter for 6 weeks before those elections and the new administration 6 week since.
But considering the magnitude of what the Planning Inspector has suggested we are not surprised that this matter has been conveniently 'lost' for a while.
In effect he is asking for significant changes, new and revised evidence and a new public consultation. This stops short of throwing the plan back. But only just.
We believe this gives the Council, or more specifically our elected Councillors, a last chance to make good all that is wrong with the plan they signed off over 2.5 years ago. It was wrong and out of date then. It certainly is out of date now, and still proposes excessive and damaging development right across the borough but very much so in and around Billericay where 2,700 houses will see over 150 hectares of Green Belt being lost. There is no need for this.
We are working on our next steps and will provide a further update very soon.
For now, please consider the Planning Inspector's words and proposals in his letter which can be found here;
PlanningInspectorResponse
