Chorley Council last night (16 July) approved a detailed action plan for its decision-making processes on planning applications.
Chorley Council last night (16 July) approved a detailed action plan for its decision-making processes on planning applications. This is a requirement under designated status, which is hoped will shortly be lifted.
In December 2023 the then Secretary of State, Michael Gove MP announced that the council had been designated in relation to performance of deciding major planning applications, determining in his view that the authority’s Planning Committee had refused too many major applications, falling above the government’s 10% threshold.
The designation means that developers can bypass the council and apply to the Planning Inspectorate to decide their planning application. This would bypass the local democratically elected decision-making powers of the Chorley Planning Committee.
The council disputed this decision which ignored the numerous meetings held and letters sent over years from Chorley Council and the MP for Chorley, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, to explain to the former government the negative impact that their changes to the planning rules have had on the borough.
Alistair Bradley, Leader of Chorley Council said, “We were utterly appalled by the decision to designate Chorley for standing up against speculative and unplanned developments.
“The council, with the support from the MP for Chorley, time and time again tried to highlight the issues Chorley is facing when it comes to planning, and to make it clear how the former government’s changes to the planning rules had a negative effect on our communities.
“We've been honest with people that we have been fighting speculative development with one hand tied behind our back. We are not anti-development – far from it - we just think it should be locally led.
“To date, no applicant has chosen to bypass the council’s planning system, choosing instead to honour their existing working relationships with us, demonstrating that the designation is merely something of a hollow threat.
“In addition, recent government guidance actually suggests that councils – such as Chorley Council who charge developers money to support local infrastructure improvements - are best placed to make these planning decisions.”
The action plan is a requirement of the designation and, now adopted, identifies areas of improvement which will hopefully mean that the designation can be lifted once the government releases its next set of statistics on performance.
The plan will now be sent to the newly renamed, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for approval and then implemented.
Alistair Bradley continued, “While we are steadfast in our condemnation of the designation and have full confidence in our Planning Committee’s decision making, the action planning process is a requirement to get back to normal.
“I truly hope that Government, on receipt of the action plan can consider the full picture for Chorley and lift the designation as swiftly as it imposed it.”
The full Council report and action plan can be found here: Agenda for Council on Tuesday, 16th July 2024, 6.30 pm | Chorley