Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) is appealing to residents to find land for development after its Local Plan was delayed in December.
On Wednesday, January 22, TRDC asked residents to suggest urban or greenfield sites for possible allocation of homes, infrastructure and commercial development. The appeal followed TRDC’s decision at a full council meeting on Tuesday, December 10, to postpone submitting its new Local Plan in order to undertake a further green belt review.
The Conservatives called an extraordinary full council meeting on Tuesday, January 7, to push through a low growth plan, but it was outvoted. The Conservatives’ proposal suggested speeding up the Local Plan process, saying the outdated plan makes it easier for developments to be approved in the district.
Abbots Langley and Bedmond councillor Vicky Edwards seconded the motion. She referenced how she “warned” councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst in a meeting in October that TRDC had to “urgently submit a Local Plan under the last government’s National Planning Policy Framework to protect [the] green belt”.
She added: “The withdrawal of the Lib Dems’ promised Local Plan has put all of our green belt at risk and makes it much easier for developers to get planning permission, regardless of residents or councillors’ views. It also means Three Rivers will now have to hit Angela Rayner MP’s new housing target of 14,977 homes across the district.”
Cllr Giles-Medhurst, Leader of TRDC and lead member for the Local Plan, said: “Despite the government imposing an increased housing target, which we find unrealistic, we remain committed to prioritising brownfield sites so that we can protect our precious green belt from development.
“So far, only about 1,000 homes can be provided on previously developed land and that is why we must ensure we leave no stone unturned. If you own a piece of land that you would like to be considered for our Local Plan, please submit it.”
For more information on suggesting a site, head to www.shorturl.at/CwBiG before the deadline on Wednesday, February 19.
Photo credit: Richard Kelly
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