Pickles overrules planning inspector to block 111-home development
Eric Pickles has overruled his own planning inspector to block a 111-home development in Leicestershire because it conflicts with an adopted neighbourhood plan.
Harborough Council initially refused permission for the development in Broughton Astley in August 2012.
In November, planning inspector Stephen Roscoe recommended it should be granted, as the council did not have a five-year land supply and the benefit of new housing ‘substantially’ outweighed concerns.
But the communities secretary blocked the appeal last week, after finding that the conflicts with the Broughton Astley neighbourhood plan ‘significantly and demonstrably’ outweigh the benefits of the development.
He noted a policy under the national planning policy framework which states that where a planning application conflicts with a neighbourhood plan that has been brought into force, planning permission should not normally be granted.
In a further judgement issued on Tuesday Mr Pickles granted permission for a 190-home development in Lancashire.
Ribble Valley Council had refused the application by the Barrow Lands Company, but the secretary of state said the local authority’s lack of an identified five-year land supply weighed ‘significantly’ in favour of the appeal.
