Shropshire Star

Council tells Prime Minister David Cameron of 'predatory' builders

A parish council has written directly to David Cameron over concerns its village is being targeted by "predatory" developers.

Published

Audlem Parish Council, based near Market Drayton, is concerned at the lack of notice taken of the village's Neighbourhood Plan when planning decisions are made.

Representations have been made to Michael Jones, leader of Cheshire East Council, who responded positively, stating that processes are being put in place to ensure due weight is given to all emerging Neighbourhood Plans.

However, Audlem Parish Council says continued uncertainty over a five-year housing land supply within Cheshire East and the high level of influence developers appear to have in government decisions is of concern to all town and parish councils who are developing their own Neighbourhood Plans.

Councillors decided it was time to go straight to the top with a letter to the prime minister, calling on him to instruct Chancellor George Osborne and the other four Cheshire East MPs to set up a forum in which the voices of the smaller towns and villages in the area can be heard by members of the government.

The letter says: "Audlem is a rural village in south Cheshire currently being targeted by predatory developers who appear to have the upper hand in determining how the five-year housing land supply is determined.

"You and many of your ministerial colleagues have been very critical of some councils for not having an agreed five-year housing land supply or a current local plan in place.

"From the point of view of Audlem and other parish councils within Cheshire East this criticism appears to overlook a fundamental fact.

"Developers submit numerous objections to the proposed housing land supply so they can take advantage of relaxed planning laws and the presumption in favour of 'sustainable' development.

"It is clear that they are not doing this to help improve the number of houses built since – in this village at least – even where planning permission is granted, no homes appear.

"Why are developers granted such influence over housing policy and communities allowed so little say?

"Local and neighbourhood plans are widely consulted upon locally, agreed by local residents and businesses and submitted in good faith to the Planning Inspectorate, only to be delayed by lengthy challenges from developers.

"This is particularly true in Cheshire East where there appears to be a 'feeding frenzy' of developers wanting to build where they will make maximum profit rather than where there is maximum need."

It adds: "We are not against development, as our Neighbourhood Plan shows, but we are frustrated and disheartened by the current developer-led approach which is riding roughshod over community-led plans."

To date the letter has been acknowledged by the prime minister's office but no detailed response has been received.

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