Concerns about planning continue to be raised with me by local people and parish or town councils.
This is about development in the wrong places without the right infrastructure like GP surgeries, schools and roads. Potential over development, solar farm applications on good agricultural land and battery storage facilities worry people greatly. Another issue is brownfield sites not getting the attention they deserve.
Local people have told me they feel in limbo after the Planning Inspector rejected Stroud District Council’s local plan that should set out where homes can be built. The council decided to pause the plan for up to 18 months rather than withdraw it and start quickly sorting out the massive problems that were highlighted by the inspector with motorways and infrastructure.
Developers will undoubtedly be circling while this mess is sorted out. While many developers try to do the right thing for local areas, if building is permitted based on the draft plan or in areas that have not been consulted properly, there will be widespread concern.
People can also see that big planning projects are just not happening even after much fanfare and drama from the council itself.
A constituent raised Brimscombe Port with me again now that the Grace Network, including loved organisations like KidsCompany are facing relocation yet again. I fought for Rush Skatepark and the Grace Network to stay in the port but the council said it had to be cleared as it wanted to build quickly. Fast forward a few years – it is a barren landscape of ugly concrete with no progress at all.
The constituent remains worried that the underlying strategy for Brimscombe Port is a problem. Financial viability points and the flawed decision to prematurely demolish could put the land in the hands of an avaricious property developer. I still have young people talking to me about Rush skatepark. They miss it dreadfully.
I have been asked to challenge various national planning issues – which I have done – including government changes to the national planning framework and removal of top-down targets – something I have supported alongside colleagues.
But, right now, we need smart local action to carefully address development and infrastructure in the Stroud district.
https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/24273801.mp-says-planning-c…
