Letter: We Are Taking Action to Review the Local Plan

Published on: 2 Aug, 2021
Updated on: 2 Aug, 2021

From: John Rigg

lead councillor for Regeneration and R4GV borough councillor for Holy Trinity

In response to: Councillor’s Response Reveals a Lack of Will to Take Action

In reply to Mr Paton’s letter l can confirm, absolutely, that we are taking concrete action to review and plan an update of the Local Plan.

We fully expect to address the distortion caused by students to the population forecasts. The legal steps required to amend the Plan require an urgent update of the evidence base which we are expecting to trigger as soon as we can.

With revised evidence, we can then follow the regulations and consultation requirements to put a draft updated Plan before the inspector. This l expect to include the latest housing figures, the impact on housing delivery and amended housing need.

I can assure Mr Paton there is a considerable difference between defeatism and realism and I certainly did not want to sound patronising or handwringing but we do not have carte blanche for reasons Mr Paton, having followed closely events for some time, will know.

Responses to Letter: We Are Taking Action to Review the Local Plan

Ian Stronge Reply

August 2, 2021 at 8:09 am

Cllr Rigg says: “…an urgent update of the evidence base which we are expecting to trigger as soon as we can”

Given it’s “urgent”, what does “as soon as we can” mean?

Short of staff? The one person who knows how to manage the “evidence base” is on holiday? Need to get permission from MHCLG [Ministry for Housing Communities & Local Government]? …

I’m puzzled.
David Roberts Reply

August 2, 2021 at 2:53 pm

It is worrying that Cllr Rigg, who is effectively the “controlling mind” of R4GV and the current council Executive, has publicly ruled out any cancellation or scaling back of the three strategic sites in the Local Plan without even waiting to see the revised population evidence. Policy is being surrendered to process, preserving his town-centre obsession while Guildford’s villages go to hell.

Meanwhile, R4GV councillors have voted for big new housing developments at both the June and July planning committees.

There can be no change to the Tory Local Plan if R4GV doesn’t support one.