EEBC LibDems call for a (short) delay in publishing the Reg 18 Local Plan

Liberal Democrat councillors are asking Epsom & Ewell Borough Council to delay the publication of the "regulation 18" part of its Local Plan from the current date of early February, so as to incorporate potential changes to the housing targets set by national government. It is expected that Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, will make changes to how local councils need to interpret housing targets, and the treatment of Green Belt land, and the implications of those changes are currently unclear. It is hoped to hear more from central government in the next few weeks.

"The original timetable for the draft Local Plan to go out to public consultation from early in February could well stand if there's an announcement quickly" says Cllr Julie Morris, member of the borough council's Licensing & Planning Policy Committee.

Liberal Democrats have previously been critical of Epsom & Ewell council's slow progress towards the production of a Local Plan. They now say that circumstances in which the Conservative Government, primed by a statement from PM Rishi Sunak, could change the rules around housing targets and Green Belt development could warrant a short delay so as to make the draft Local Plan more robust.

"We have often been critical of the delays in bringing this draft Local Plan forward for consultation but going 'live' in early February could rule out being able to swiftly incorporate government changes to housing targets or implement new guidance on Green Belt development. We hope a delay won't be necessary but pausing for a few weeks could potentially save months and months of extra work in 2023 and a much longer delay in achieving the objective, which is to have local policies in place to guide development and protect our borough " says Cllr Morris.

20 December 2022

ENDS

Note

Epsom & Ewell's current housing target is 576 dwellings per annum. This figure does not align with figures released by the ONS (Office of National Statistics). Epsom & Ewell's current position on supporting the government housing target, or not, is unknown. Pressure groups have been established as a result of apparent leaks from within council circles. Epsom Green Belt is a Facebook group dedicated to saving Green Belt land at Downs Farm which has not as yet been confirmed as intended for development.

For further information contact

Cllr Julie Morris 01372 744297, 07773 924175