Test looms for localism for Malmesbury (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Test looms for localism for Malmesbury

9:00am Sunday 29th January 2012 in News By Victoria Ashford

A housing development in Malmesbury is being seen as a test case nationally for the government’s Localism Bill.

Despite huge resistance from residents’ associations, the town council and a rejection at planning level from Wiltshire Council, White Lion Land is still determined to have its application for 77 homes off Park Road approved at appeal by the Planning Inspectorate.

If the town’s steadfast stance is overruled, the trial neighbourhood plan, which has been set up as part of the Localism Bill to give communities more planning power, could be seen to be failing.

With the core strategy not yet approved and the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 coming to an end, there is a state of confusion about which planning policy to follow when debating applications from developers.

Town and unitary councillor Simon Killane said: “Developers love indecision. They are appealing against everything because they see the system is no longer clear.

“It’s really in a transitional flux. It is why these developers are all gathering around towns like ours because it’s very difficult for anyone to have an answer about what takes precedence and what policy to use, so lawyers are having a field day.

“The government has a dilemma because if it is approved it is over-rulling every element of localism that we can think of and it will send a clear message to these developers.”

The new Localism Bill, which will be enforced in April, will prevent the Planning Inspectorate from being able to make changes to the local plans, which guide development in towns.

Instead, neighbourhood forums, such as the trial model which is under way in Malmesbury, will have the power to decide which green spaces to protect and where new homes and shops are able to go.

It is because of this that some are sceptical about the sudden rush of developers keen to build in Malmesbury before the plans are legalised in April.

Resident Kim Power, who lives near to the proposed development, said: “We are on the cusp of getting our neighbourhood plan sorted out, and when that’s done people will be able to have a say and influence as to how planning affects the town.

“We have all of these different developments coming along now and it’s like a window where the developers are trying to take advantage of the changeover of the law.

“One of the reasons Wiltshire Council opposed the application is that it’s premature to the Wiltshire core strategy and our neighbourhood plan.”