Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area of the Ramblers' Association
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Countryside Issues Update:
June 2010
Dear Colleagues, 29 June 2010.
CAMPAIGN UPDATE. PROPOSED CHANGES TO REGIONAL PLANNING. 
Following the recent good news that the second runway at Stansted would not now be happening, there is more encouraging news in that Communities and Local Government secretary Eric Pickles has told councils and the Planning Inspectorate that the regional planning regime for England should no longer carry any weight in terms of planning decisions. See website for details.
Regional Plans which as you will recall set the large housing numbers we have been campaigning against, vis the 100,000 for Hertfordshire distributed throughout the 10 councils, much of which would have ended up on Green Belt and Greenfield land where we walk. Planning minister Bob Neill has called on the planning profession to lead the move to put power back into the hands of local people. See the extract from the Planning Portal here.
As you may be aware, Councils are at different points with their Local Development Framework processes which if and when completed would replace their Local Plans and, until Mr Pickles letter, would have had to find where to put the large numbers of houses allocated to their areas as set out in the East of England Plan.
As seems likely, Councils will become responsible for setting their own targets for housing, but they await more guidance from the DCLG. Some Councils have put their LDF processes on hold. Others such as Stevenage having submitted its LDF to the Government Inspector for approval,will follow this through.
But with the Stevenage and N Herts Action Plan(SNAP) set up to deal with the 10,000 house proposed under the East of England Plan earmarked for countryside West and North of Stevenage and due out for consultation has been put on hold in the light of Mr Pickles' letter and the NHDC's Cabinet resolved that all work on SNAP should cease until there is greater clarity on future numbers of new houses and jobs.
Likewise, the vast house building proposals known as Harlow North where some 10,000 houses were earmarked for Hertfordshire in the parishes of Eastwick, Hunsdon, High Wych and Gilston may also not now proceed because East Herts Council have never been in favour of it.
So, all in all this seems better for the Hertfordshire countryside where we walk, but we will have to see what happens and continue to respond to Councils consultations when they review their Plans for their future needs. For up to date information you can contact your local council Planning Policy team, who I always find very helpful.
Please forward this update to your friends and any colleagues who may be interested.
Thank you and best wishes,
Philip Greswell,
Countryside Secretary, Hertfordshire and N Middx Area, The RamblersEmail: philipgreswell@aol.com
Archive:
2009 January update - April Update - August Update
2008 November update - September update
Ridgeway near Wendover
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