The Central & East planning committee met at county hall yesterday to consider a number of planning applications, including one for Eden Transport and one for 5 stables to the rear of Dene View, both in High Hesleden (see posts dated 10 December 2012, 7 January, 10 January & 17 February 2013 for further details).
Along with residents from High Hesleden I spoke against the planning officers recommendation for outline planning consent for 9 houses on the site of the Eden Transport business in the village. However, following deliberation the members of the planning committee saw fit to approve the application in line with the officers recommendation.
It should be noted at this point that the committee decision applies to outline consent only and that the details of the development will be subject to further deliberations under what is known as reserved matters.
The same committee also refused planning consent for a block of 5 stables, hay store and tack room to the rear of Dene View.
I believe that local people ought to have much greater influence over which developments they want, or don't want, in their own village so have suggested to residents in High Hesleden that our decision to proceed with a Neighbourhood Plan should still stand (see post dated 17 February 2013).
The current planning system can be seen as unfair and adversarial in that it pits professional planners and paid agents against community representatives who don't necessarily have the planning or legal expertise to compete. Neighbourhood planning ought to redress this imbalance and place development control in the hands of local communities.