Relief and disappointment over pause to Thatcham 2,500-homes plan
THE pause on West Berkshire’s Local Plan Review which caused the proposals for 2,500 homes in Thatcham to be put on hold have been described as “a disappointment and a relief” by the district's Liberal Democrats.
As reported in the Newbury Weekly News last week, the council has been forced to review its entire Local Plan after a change in Government planning laws, which now require ‘significant extensions’ to towns or villages to have a 30-year vision, rather than only new settlements.
As a result, the council’s plans for 2,500 homes in north east Thatcham have been put on hold as the council goes back to the drawing board.
The Liberal Democrat spokesperson for planning on the council, Dr Tony Vickers (Wash Common), said: “This is both a disappointment and a relief.
“It certainly isn’t a surprise, because the Tories at national government level are in a complete muddle over their planning and housing policy and this is making it almost impossible for local government to plan ahead robustly.
“Our planners were already under enormous pressure to complete the Local Plan Review in time for the new plan to be adopted before the next local elections in May 2023.
“This pause gives planners time to reconsider whether such a large single site, which undoubtedly counts as a ‘major extension’, is sensible, which could be a relief to Thatcham.”
However, Mr Vickers said it was “disappointing” that the change in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) hadn’t been stronger on climate change, calling for all new homes to be zero carbon.
He continued: “The requirement for a 30-year vision on major extensions to settlements takes us beyond 2050 – which significantly is when the UK Government commits to achieving ‘Zero Carbon’.
“But unless the Government acts urgently with every policy lever in its armoury – not least in demanding zero carbon for new homes with immediate effect – there is no point in planning so far ahead.
“The minor strengthening of the words in the NPPF on climate change are worthless while so many other related policies assume ‘business as usual’.
“That’s what is so disappointing.”
