The Big Picture

Development proposals

I'm personally against development on green belt land in Rushcliffe and this is also the longstanding policy of the Borough Council. I oppose the huge development targets that the Government has imposed upon us. Let me be quite clear that no decision has been taken on any major development.

All of which may leave readers wondering why we have even identified specific areas at all.

I'm pleased that The Big Picture blog gives me the chance to explain - and I hope that, along with the background information, residents of Rushcliffe will understand the process better and come back to me with opinions and ideas.

I believe passionately in local people making decisions about local issues. But sometimes legislation or government instructions require us to consider matters that we don't like. And housing is one of these areas.

We've been told we have to deliver a 30% increase in housing in Rushcliffe by 2026. We oppose those figures and continue to fight them.

However, we have to, in line with government guidelines, identify sufficient land adjacent to the existing urban area that could accommodate the housing numbers required by the Government. We are in a no win situation.

If we don't proceed with the process of identifying where new housing might go, something we have to do as the local planning authority, then we run the risk of either the government sending someone to do the job for us or - as with Sharphill - planning permission being granted on appeal. Both of these options would be extremely expensive and however much I feel we are being put in an impossible position, I believe it is always preferable for proposals to be made by locally elected councillors rather than by government appointed civil servants.

So, in line with what we have to do, we've identified the areas that fit the government guidelines and which could deliver the housing numbers being imposed upon us.

But let me be clear - we will continue to oppose the level of development the Government is proposing for Rushcliffe.

Please let me know what you think.

Cllr Neil Clarke
Leader, Rushcliffe Borough Council
13th January 2010

Cllr Neil Clarke outlines opposition to the proposals and what happens next for Rushcliffe residents in a video interview for The Big Picture.
Click here to watch the interview.

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