No,
this isn't about the Mem or Sainsburys. Strictly speaking, it's not
even about Bristol, because the site is just 'over the border' in
BaNES.
It's
the three fields that lie between Stockwood and Whitchurch village.
Normally used for grazing ponies, and criss-crossed by footpaths, the
fields were bought a few years back by Robert Hitchins Ltd, a
Cheltenham based developer specialising in commercial business parks.
Hitchins' ambitions for the three fields are a bit different, though. Up to
295 houses, pretty much filling up the remaining Green Belt open space between
the two settlements. No shops, no schools, no health centre,
no....... anything, really. Just an estate.
Twice
they've put in planning applications to Bath and North East Somerset's
development control committee. Twice, they've been unequivocally turned down,
because their proposals break most of the rules in the planning book.
Now
they're trying a new approach. They're appealing to the Planning
Inspectorate against the most recent refusal, in the hope that Mr
Pickles will override the considered views of local residents and
councillors. But at the same time they're introducing a slightly
scaled-down alternative version of the original proposal – with 200
houses instead of 295.
We have the opportunity to comment
on this 'reduced' scheme – or at least, on the summary diagram
that seems to provide the sole documentary foundation for it
But this version will skip the local scrutiny that was enough to see off the
original plan. Instead, it will be for the government Planning
Inspector to look at the evidence and make a recommendation to the
boss – Eric Pickles, Localisation Hero.
Smart,
eh?
The
Planning Enquiry is expected next month. Deadline for comments is
15th September.
[added 19th Sept] The public inquiry is scheduled for 22nd October, 10am, at the Bath City F.C. ground, Twerton Park BA2 1DB
[added 19th Sept] The public inquiry is scheduled for 22nd October, 10am, at the Bath City F.C. ground, Twerton Park BA2 1DB
3 comments:
The Barratt Homes scheme for 47 homes currently being built in the village was also contrary to the wishes of local people but approved by the Government Inspector. The developer has not even satisfied the pre-commencement planning conditions imposed by the inspector. But why would that stop them from ploughing on regardless? After all Developers are now making up the rules as they go, seemingly with impunity.
Am expecting to read outraged editorials in the Bristol Post about how Developers keep holding Bristol back by using the appeals process and other legal strategies when the democratic council has rejected their planning application.
When will these selfish minority developers ever learn
harry
No, the Post would never incite their readers like that.... would they?
Anyway, the developers don't tick all the required boxes for the Post's vindictiveness - 'anti-progress, anti-capitalist and living in cloud cuckoo land' people who 'are causing serious damage to our city'.
Not quite all the boxes, anyway.
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