MALVERN’S MP Harriett Baldwin has urged planning inspectors to speed up the introduction of a major blueprint which governs the future development of South Worcestershire.
Mrs Baldwin has written to Planning Minister Nick Boles and the Planning Inspector calling for a faster timetable to conclude the confirmation of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).
The MP joined forces with Mid-Worcestershire colleague Peter Luff to ask the local planning inspector to speed up the process and confirm the joint plan.
Malvern Hills, Wychavon District Councils and Worcester City Council all voted last year to approve the plan but they now face many months of delays while planning bureaucrats assess the submission.
Both MPs have written asking the inspector to speed up his work and Mrs Baldwin has lobbied the Minister asking for him to intervene as well.
Both have confirmed the investigations will conclude as quickly as possible to allow the plan to be moved forward towards formal adoption.
Mrs Baldwin said: “The South Worcestershire Development Plan is the democratically agreed plan which has been the subject of local consultation and discussion for years now.
“I am delighted that the Regional Spatial Strategy has been consigned to the dustbin of history, but I want localism to replace it.
“To my mind, the democratically agreed plan ought to be considered the definitive document and the Planning Inspector should only be able to make changes where there are actual errors of fact.
“With every day of uncertainty over the adoption of this plan, our towns and villages continue to face speculative planning applications and councils are unable to work to their own, democratically agreed local strategy.
“I have written to the inspector and I hope that he heeds my advice to speed up the pace of the adoption of the SWDP once and for all.”
