RESOLUTION FOR THE NEW YEAR

New-YearThe pun proved irresistible.

However, it is what we need to be in 2016. Resolute. Resolute in reminding the people we elect and the people whose salaries we pay through our taxes that we do not want speculative development on the Green Gap. Resolute in holding both to account. Resolute in making sure we see this through to a happy ending.

As we go into 2016, there’s plenty to be optimistic about.

Grainger’s (and Nurton’s) scheme is not in the democratically adopted Local development Plan. Whatever the technical issues surrounding 5 year housing land supply, surely Officers and Members from SODC would not support a scheme that conflicts so fundamentally with their / our own plan?

In deciding to challenge two appeal decisions on developments in Chinnor in the High Court, SODC issued a clear policy commitment and statement of intent. Elizabeth Gillespie SODC’s Cabinet minister for Housing and Planning matters said in the press release at the end of November: “We aim for sound planning decisions in South Oxfordshire and are committed to ensuring that development only happens in suitable locations. We are currently dealing with a number of similar planning applications so are determined to help ensure that our residents are protected from speculative development.” The Green Gap was deemed not suitable as a location in the 2012 Core Strategy and Grainger’s application is 100% speculative. Surely SODC has an obligation to extend the same protection to all residents, wherever they happen to live in the district?

At the beginning of December came the Didcot Garden Town announcement. This trumpeted 15,000 new homes for the area – and pointedly excluded Grainger and Nurton from the allocation. And there, pride of place was the Green Gap playing a key role as the “lungs” for Didcot. In what will be one of the first planning decisions following this huge announcement, surely SODC would not sanction application(s) that would concrete over the Garden?

However the best definition of an optimist is a pessimist without all the facts.

Ranged against SODC is the might (i.e. seemingly bottomless pockets) of rapacious developers and their army of consultants. And to be fair this sometimes also includes the government’s own planning system. This underpins the “inevitability narrative”. A narrative that says it simply isn’t worth fighting, as they’ll win in the end.

Yet nothing is inevitable unless you choose to make it so. There is a way to see off the speculators. It is called resolute planning. Resolute planning does the right thing rather than the easy thing. Resolute planning asks forensic questions rather than ticks boxes. Resolute planning fights for the plans we all signed up to and refuses to do deals in dark corners.

So if there is one resolution for 2016 to which Planners, Members and the community must subscribe, it is to remain resolute.

Happy New Year.

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