COTSWOLD MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown welcomed the planning minister to the district to discuss how the National Planning Police Framework was impacting the Cotswolds.

Nick Boles MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Planning, visited Cotswold District Council's headquarters last Wednesday and discussed a large number of planning issues.

While he was there, he met Council leader and deputy leader along with several officers and they discussed the progress of a local plan and the council's five year land supply along with the 20 per cent extra that Cotswold District Council need to provide.

Also discussed were local infrastructure and how the issue of cumulative effects of multiple developments in one area could be taken into account when deciding on planning applications.

At the meeting, the importance of not building in the flood plain was also mulled over along with the benefit of neighbourhood plans.

Mr Clifton-Brown said he was pleased the planning minister had visited the Cotswolds.

"I have been campaigning hard for a large number of years to ensure that the Cotswolds AONB is protected and that decades of careful planning are not undermined by a sudden influx of new developments," he said.

"We discussed a large number of concerns and I was pleased to see the progress that Cotswold District Council is making with both their local plan and the five year land supply.

"I will continue to take the case to Government that the AONB must be protected, whilst recognising the need for new housing.”