MALVERN’S MP Harriett Baldwin used a debate at the House of Commons to urge planning ministers to speed up confirmation of a vital planning blueprint for south Worcestershire.
Mrs Baldwin spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on planning and asked minister Nick Boles to ensure local views on the future development of areas such as Malvern would be heard through the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).
The West Worcestershire MP has already joined forces with Mid Worcestershire colleague Peter Luff to ask the local planning inspector to speed up the process to confirm the SWDP.
During the debate, Mrs Baldwin asked Mr Boles to give guidance on whether neighbourhood plans will take precedence in planning once they have been adopted.
She offered her support to parishes working towards creating their own plan.
She said: “I love neighbourhood plans and think they are an excellent way of giving power to local people and bringing back an organic approach to planning.”
Speaking after the debate, she added: “The South Worcestershire Development Plan is an important document which has been the subject of local consultation and discussion for more than two years now.
“Many local people have expressed their concerns to me about delays approving the plan and I was happy to take this issue to Westminster to ask for a swift resolution to this issue.
“The minister told me that although he is not able to comment on individual planning matters, he said he expected that he would expect plans to be adopted in between six and 12 months from the date of submission.
“We are approaching the first anniversary of the district council votes to approve the SWDP so I hope the Planning Inspector takes note of the Minister’s comments as he carries out this crucial task.”
