Planning for our recovery

Chichester District Council is planning a recovery pathway from lockdown under the Covid-19 pandemic.

It would have been progressive and inclusive to have sought views and ideas from all concerned as proposed by councillor Adrian Moss and opposition councillors to establish a Recovery Task Force. That didn’t happen.

We now have CDC’S proposals. Under ‘Planning, Health and Environmental Protection’ they include the following:

- The focus moving forward should therefore be how the council can streamline and support the planning application process so as not to present a barrier to development

- Inviting developers to intensify and speed up development... suitable for more intensive development ...’

- Revise the council’s own land holdings to consider if they have the potential for development introduce fast-track planning services

... allow developers to tailor the way in which they engage with Local Planning Authority to expedite decisions on planning applications

- Use of shorter implementation periods

- Review the council’s scheme of delegation and red card procedure ...’

In the Sunday Observer of June 21 Phillip Inman wrote: “Ministers (government) are wondering how to force local government in affluent areas ... to begin a fire sale of public land ... officials inside No 10 are working on ways to reform the planning system to allow for an explosion of housing and property development

... they would deny the uglification of Britain will be the result ... with no time or money left to develop longterm sustainable schemes. Property developers are among the biggest donors to the Tory party ... a fire sale beckons.”

CDC appointed a climate change officer in June, building and development are at the heart of reaching ‘carbon neutrality’ by 2030.

Why is there no statement for building in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner in the recovery pathway for planning? CLLR POLLY GASKIN Arun Park Chichester