Council Responds To Questions Inspector Asked Of Local Plan

Published on: 12 Apr, 2018
Updated on: 20 Apr, 2018

Guildford Borough Council has given its responses to a set of questions received from a planning inspector as part of the process of developing its new Local Plan.

The council says that protecting local heritage and countryside is a critical part of planning for the future.

The leader of the council, Paul Spooner also said: “Our new Local Plan is the best way to provide the homes, jobs, education, transport and other essential infrastructure to balance community needs across our borough. We have now responded to the set of initial questions received from the planning inspector.

“Our responses give the opportunity to clarify the reasoning behind our plan, explain the positive steps taken to deliver the plan and restate fundamental policies such as developing on previously used, brownfield, land first.

“As the inspector controls the independent examination of our submitted plan, he will ask further questions before the public hearings start on June 5 and request responses from the council and those who objected to any topics he raises.”

The challenging questions the council received from the inspector at the end of March and its answers can be viewed on the council’s website, www.guildford.gov.uk/newlocalplan/examination

Or click here for the 75-page PDF file GBC-LPSS-001- Guildford Borough Council Response to Initial Questions 1 – 8 [1Mb]

Responses to Council Responds To Questions Inspector Asked Of Local Plan

Jules Cranwell Reply

April 12, 2018 at 4:37 pm

I have read these responses, including all the pretty charts, and I have to say, I am none the wiser, as they have not answered the fundamental issues raised by the inspector.
Jim Allen Reply

April 13, 2018 at 9:04 am

Noting the 17% increase from objectively access needs on the housing for ‘contingencies’ and the claimed new defensible boundary at Gosden hill in the middle of nowhere; as opposed to the solid building line ancient woodland, commonland and local green space in Merrow Lane.

As for the exceptional circumstances…. durrrrr!
Valerie Thompson Reply

April 15, 2018 at 7:31 am

Guildford Borough Council has never explained the exceptional circumstances that prove that “insetting” the rural villages from the green belt is right and proper.

I hope that the inspector will continue to challenge this at the hearing.

I also hope that local people will turn up in their hundreds to protest at GBC’s utter disregard for public opinion.

The questions posed by the inspector included ones which the public have been asking for some time, such as why should Ash be awarded new green belt?

Why are Guildford Borough Council so intent on increasing retail areas in Guildford? On land which would be better used for flats, especially when so many shops are going into administration; Mothercare and one of the carpet companies are the latest, following East and Maplin.
Jules Cranwell Reply

April 19, 2018 at 10:13 pm

Mr Atkinson is spot on. Just this morning we learned that Hammersons is trying to pull out of its takeover of Intu, due to concerns over the future of in-store retail.

When will GBC wake up and smell the Nespresso, and stop gambling our hard-earned on extremely risky investments in retail space?

It is not their money they are risking!