PLANNING issues in the Cotswolds and the importance of neighbourhood plans were topics of a parliamentary debate led by Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

Mr Clifton-Brown had been granted a debate in Parliament on planning and the National Planning Policy Framework which was responded to directly by Planning Minister Brandon Lewis MP.

During his debate he also raised the need to give greater protection to AONBs and ensuring that equal weight is given in the Framework to environmental and social concerns as is currently given to economic concerns. The Minister accepted this point and undertook to write to the Planning Inspectorate ensuring they are giving suitable consideration to the characteristics of local communities.

The issue of infrastructure requirements was also addressed and the need to ensure that any necessary infrastructure is in place before a new development is completed. For example he referred to the impact of new developments in Moreton on the main road bridge where two HGVs already cannot cross at the same time. The Minister confirmed that “the provision of timely and robust infrastructure is vital to delivering sustainable development”. He went on to confirm that there are provisions for local authorities to deliver that infrastructure.

The Cotswold MP also called for Thames Water, as the water undertaker, to be a statutory consultee on planning applications alongside the Environment Agency and others and made a suggestion to the Planning Minister, that a mandatory mentoring scheme be developed for councils that have not yet had their local plan adopted.

Another issue that Mr Clifton-Brown raised was that of neighbourhood plans. Last year he wrote to all parish and town councils urging them to consider drawing up plans. They give local communities a much greater say over the planning process in their area, and where there is a neighbourhood plan in place the community retains 25 per cent of the Community Infrastructure Levy.

There had been concern that with no local plan in place neighbourhood plans would simply be ignored, and so only a limited number of communities created them. However Brandon Lewis MP, the Planning Minister, was very clear during the debate that even if no local plan is in place, a “made” neighbourhood plan can provide some certainty as to what development will take place. After being asked by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Minister promised to write to all leaders of all planning authorities about the importance of neighbourhood plans.

Following the parliamentary session Mr Clifton-Brown said: “This was a very good debate in which a large number of issues were raised. The Minister’s response was encouraging, particularly as he confirmed the importance and usefulness of neighbourhood plans. I encourage all communities in The Cotswolds to draw up local plans because it will give that area much greater control of where development takes place. I was also glad to hear what the Minister had to say about environmental and social protection, as well as his comments about infrastructure and his promise to carefully consider my proposal for a mentoring scheme for councils that have still not adopted local plans.”