Memorandum submitted by High Peak Borough Council (PB 35)

 

 

PLANNING BILL 2008 - IMPACT OF TOWN & VILLAGE GREEN APPLICATIONS (COMMONS ACT 2006).

 

I am writing to you to highlight the problems caused by Town & Village Green applications on the development process and the effective delivery of public infrastructure. At a meeting on 18 December the Council resolved to write and express their concern on the issue.

 

Too many proposals to improve the quality of life for High Peak residents

have been thwarted by Town and Village Green applications made under the

Commons Act 2006 (and earlier legislation).

 

These applications have impacted on planned improvements within the

Borough particularly:

· affordable housing

· housing development

· new leisure and sports facilities

Once an application is made, the registration authority takes years to deal

with them however flimsy or ill-founded they may be.

The costs of representation at public enquiries are substantial.

 

The Council therefore requests the Secretary of State for Communities and

Local Government to include provisions in the Planning Bill currently

before Parliament to achieve the following:

 

· the prohibition of town green applications being made after a planning

application has been submitted

· a requirement for registration authorities to implement time-limited,

fast-track, cost-effective administrative arrangements for applications

whose characteristics appear principally to be frustrating development.

 

February 2008