Comment

Representation ID: 1247

Received: 10/08/2010

Respondent: Iceni Projects

The new Government has announced a series of significant changes to the planning system that are material to the Core Strategy and its daughter documents, including the DMD and SCAAP. Whilst the intention of the changes is not to derail or stop the LDF production process, it is inevitable that the implications of the changes will need to be considered by the Council. In the absence of clarification from the Council as to its intended path - principally the choice between continuing with the Core Strategy as adopted (and continuing the production of its daughter documents based on an unaltered strategy), or opting to alter the Core Strategy to take account of the changes. Either way, the Council is expected to: ".quickly signal their intention to undertake an early review so that communities and land owners know where they stand." [guidance issued on 6 July 2010 by the Department for Communities and Local Government].We await the response from the Council as to its intentions regarding housing targets and reserve the right to comment further on the clarification of its position. If the Council decides the appropriate path is to undertake an early review of the Core Strategy, which for the avoidance of doubt Colonnade considers is the appropriate approach in light of the changes to PPS3 in particular (the reasons for this being clarified below), then the consultation on the DMD and SCAAP should be held in abeyance pending the outcome of the review.

With regard to the housing targets set out in the now revoked East of England Plan, Colonnade would welcome the swift clarification of the intended approach to the housing provision targets in accordance with Government advice.