Local Plan Update
A Happy New Year to all our readers.
Recently there has been considerable progress on the Local Plan in that the final proposed draft is now almost ready to be published for public consultation and examination by a planning inspector who will check it is valid for adoption.
In order to allow Hart to lead the planning process it is essential that the proposed plan quickly gains as much credibility as possible, i.e. it must be submitted as soon as possible for examination by an inspector. Further, unlike the previous plan, it must not fail examination setting us back years. All the time there is no up to date local plan, developers can propose expansion for Hook and fight at appeal to get it approved.
Other action groups in Hart are in a similar situation to us. We have joined together with them and have submitted a joint letter to all the Hart Councillors stating that the 4th January full council meeting must “take a robust plan forward to the Regulation 19 consultation. The plan must be capable of standing up to examination in public on all aspects, including but not limited to affordable housing supply, provision of space for schools and housing numbers, allowing for uncertainty in government methodology”. Here is a copy of the letter and a link to the draft local plan that is being considered this week by Hart councillors.