From the chamber - Impact of new planning rules on our local plan

 I am writing this article because some of you may have heard conflicting or confusing information relating to the new Planning proposals that were issued by the Government just before Christmas.

The document I am referring to is the National Planning Policy Framework, known as the NPPF. This is the planning document that drives all planning from individual Planning Applications through to the Brough Council's Local Plan.

 You may have heard, or been told, that the requirement for local planning targets for new dwellings has been relaxed. However, as is so often the case with this government, and with statements from their ministers and MPs, the rhetoric has little relation to fact. This is the case with these supposed changes to the NPPF.

 There is no relaxation in housing targets. They remain as before, so we will still be required to deliver 795 dwellings per annum for 15 years. Only in exceptional circumstances (which has been the case for many years) can this target be set aside. Some three or four years ago, Wokingham Borough Council (then under Conservative leadership) made legal representation to identify whether Wokingham Borough had any exceptional circumstances that could be applied. The answer from our legal advisors was an emphatic 'NO'. That remains the case, despite what Sir John Redwood MP has written. He has either misunderstood or misrepresented the true situation.

 The council has been campaigning for a reduction in our housing target so that we can build at a sustainable rate.  We have argued that past over-delivery in the current local plan period should be allowed against the new target for the emerging local plan.  The refusal by the Government to allow for past over-provision of new dwellings since 2010 means that this borough and its residents will now be obliged to accept an extra near 2,000 dwellings more than would have been the case if past over-provision had been allowed. The government refused our request, I should add, despite the council pointing out that our borough has grown by over 15% between 2011 and 2021 (and more since), the third highest increase in the country. 

 The government's actions, in my opinion are a violation of natural justice. Most people, I suspect, would agree. 

 In our campaign to reduce the borough's housing allocation, we have had support from MPs who represent parts of the borough, including Theresa May, MP for Maidenhead, who has consistently supported the Council when we have requested her help, and Matt Rhoda, the MP for Reading East. Unfortunately, the MP representing most of the borough has been less willing to assist.  All we have had from Sir John Redwood is misleading and inaccurate claims.  

 There is still time for Sir John to change his approach and engage with us more constructively.  We would welcome that, as I'm sure would many residents.  We can achieve more for the borough by working together than we can if we are pulling in opposite directions. 

Cllr Lindsay Ferris

Wokingham Borough Councillor for Twyford and Exec Member for Planning & Local Plan