Lack Of Mendip Local Plan Encouraging Developers

The lack of a Local Plan in the Mendip area of Somerset is creating something of a loop hole that is attracting unhealthy attention from developers. It is a requirement placed on District Councils that an active policy be in place to specify where development will be allowed, but Mendip District Council's expired in 2011. As a result, villages in the area are being exploited by housing developers, residents claim.

Speaking on their behalf, David Heath, MP for Somerton and Frome, said this has left villagers feeling as if they are being "steam-rollered". Better late than never, the district council said it has now submitted a Local Plan for examination.

Areas such as this are under planning pressure

The appropriately named Pitchfork Rebels, a campaign group in Norton St Philip, said because there is no Local Plan, planning applications are being evaluated against the  National Planning Policy Framework  which has a "presumption in favour of sustainable development".

Graham Binns, of the Pitchfork Rebels, said more than 50 houses are already being built in his village and another 150 could double its size. "With 52 houses already granted planning permission we have already more than taken our share," he said.

Back to Mr Heath, who was speaking in Parliament when he called on Planning Minister Nick Boles to set out more clearly the number of new homes the villages must accept.

He said: "The problem at the moment is that, in the absence of a local plan, we have a situation where developers are making opportunistic planning applications all over the place and the local councils are in a very weak position to respond. I simply want a system which provides for the housing we need in the right places, that allows villages to grow, but doesn't allow villages to simply be destroyed and built over for the profits of house builders."

Once again in the Commons, Mr Boles responded by saying that schemes for more housing can be rejected, but only in "exceptional circumstances". Although obviously pleased that the ball is finally rolling, The Pitchfork Rebels claim it could be June before a revised Local Plan - submitted by the district council on Tuesday - is accepted by central government.

Councillor Nigel Woollcombe-Adams, who is in charge of planning at Mendip District Council, agreed that some developers are "getting away" with building houses they might not have, were there a plan in place. It is important that our Local Plan is examined and adopted as quickly as possible because this will give the council a much stronger hand in deciding where planning applications should be approved or refused," he added.

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