Warning issued over decision to delay local plan as fears mount over speculative development

Nick Ridley said time spent completing the joint local plan properly was important Picture: ALEX FAIRFULL

Local plans are developed by councils across the country to identify areas suitable for future sustainable development, and highlighting areas which should remain as green or open space.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk district councils have been developing a joint plan for the two districts, with the matter set to go before full council meetings this month.

But a decision has now been made to delay progress on the plan until after the elections in May.

Cabinet members said they did not want the matter to become a secondary issue during public consultation to the election canvassing, and by holding it after the election only one issue would be presented at a time.

John Matthissen said the plan was vital for future development in Mid Suffolk Picture: OWEN HINES (Image: Archant)

Councillor Glen Horn, Mid Suffolk cabinet member for planning, said: “A huge amount of work has gone into our joint local plan, and we’re really pleased with the draft we now have.

“We want to put it to our communities and give our residents and our towns and parishes the chance to respond in full.

“The fact is that if we put it out just weeks before heading into an election campaign, some residents may feel we as elected members won’t be able to give it our full attention.

“With a plan this important we don’t want anyone to think this is a second priority to anything, so we will be putting our plan to the public after the May elections.”

Glen Horn said the delay was so it did not become a secondary issue to the elections in May Picture: GREGG BROWN

Councillor Nick Ridley, planning cabinet member for Babergh said it would “form the cornerstone” of planning policy for years to come, and added: “It is vital that we take the time to discuss this in full, both with members, our towns and parishes and with the public who will be living in new wards following our recent boundary review. If that takes a few months longer than originally planned, it will be time well spent to get this right.”

However, concerns have been raised that it will mean more time without a coherent plan that could enable speculative developers to make applications which are not suitable or sustainable.

Councillor John Matthissen from the opposition Green group at Mid Suffolk, said: “We are very concerned at this third delay to the production of the joint local plan.

“The plan is crucial to ensuring homes are built where our communities wish to see them and equally essential as part of demonstrating that the council has a five year housing land supply.”

Green councillor Andrew Stringer said the delay would be to the detriment of the countryside Picture: SCC (Image: Suffolk County Council)

Councillor Andrew Stringer, also from the Mid Suffolk Green group, added: “The conservative administration has yet again not delivered on promises they made to our communities, these constant slipping timetables are costing our countrysides future.”

A date for when the matter will be resumed has not been given.