Government Planning Inspector says that Pickles’ Letter is Material
June 12, 2010 by Editor · Leave a Comment
PUBLIC scrutiny of Castle Point’s housing proposals has been postponed following the Government’s announcement it will return planning powers to local communities.
The change comes after Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, confirmed the Government planned to scrap Labour’s housing targets.
Government inspector Paul Crysell, who will be carrying out the examination, said: “Because the Government intends to abolish regional spatial strategies, this becomes a material consideration in examining development plans.”
“For this reason, it is necessary to defer, at the very least, the hearing session on housing into the Castle Point core strategy until clarity is provided in a formal ministerial statement.”
The Pickles Effect – Forest Heath throws out planning application in Newmarket
June 2, 2010 by Editor · Leave a Comment
BBC Look East carried a story tonight with presenters in Suffolk and in London stating that this was the first planning test of the Coalition Agreement ‘s declaration that the RSS housing targets would be abolished and the controversial letter that was issued by Eric Pickles on 27 May to all council chief planners in the UK.
Tonight BBC Suffolk carries the decision at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/10221305.stm
Here is an extract of Forest Heath District Council’s Report Update to Members dated 1 June including Counsel’s Opinion