Fiona
Bruce meets Housing Minister regarding Neighbourhood Plans
Fiona Bruce has
met this week in Parliament with Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis MP, and
pressed for the time it takes for Neighbourhood Plans to be produced and
finalised to be shortened.
Fiona Bruce said “Now
that it is clear that Cheshire East’s Local Plan will not be further
progressed, let alone finalised, until well into next year at the earliest, it
is essential both that all our local communities look to produce Neighbourhood Plans
to protect themselves against aggressive developers, and also that
National Government look to reduce the length of time it takes for a
Neighbourhood Plan to be finalised and the procedures involved."
Housing
Minister Brandon Lewis MP, has confirmed to Fiona Bruce that National
Government has made additional funding available for local authorities to
access to help with the production of Neighbourhood Plans.
Fiona Bruce added “On
the basis that there is National funding for these, I am urging all the
communities in my constituency to go full speed ahead with Neighbourhood Plans
and to press Cheshire East Council for as much support and resources as they
need to produce these as quickly as possible.”
Writing to
Alsager Town Council today, in a letter which she has asked to be read out at
this week’s Council meeting, Fiona Bruce stated:
“Dear
Councillors,
I write
regarding the potential commencement of a Neighbourhood Plan for Alsager.
In light of the
recent rejection of Cheshire East’s draft Local Plan, my strong advice is that Alsager
residents and community leaders now urgently consider creating a Neighbourhood
Plan for Alsager. Neighbourhood Plans
carry statutory weight and are therefore considered by Inspectors on Planning
Appeals and can influence their decisions.
A recent Court case
has established that Neighbourhood Plans carry such weight even where a
principal authority (in this case Cheshire East) has not finalised its Local
Plan. Whilst Neighbourhood Plans take
some time to complete, in light of how long it has already taken Cheshire East
to formulate its Local Plan, it is possible that an Alsager Neighbourhood Plan
could be in place before a Cheshire East Local Plan. I am currently pressing
Housing Ministers in Parliament to speed up the time frame for Neighbourhood
Plans.
There is an
obligation on a principal authority to assist with the creation of a
Neighbourhood Plan, under Localism legislation and I have therefore spoken with
Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council regarding this, and he has
confirmed his agreement to provide urgent funds and resources to support the
creation of a Neighbourhood Plan. I am of course available to provide support in
this also.
With kind
regards,
Yours sincerely
Fiona Bruce MP
Member of Parliament for the Congleton
Constituency
