HAVING taken specialist legal advice, Mid Devon District Council previously requested an adjournment of the initial Local Plan Hearings that were due to take place in September 2017, leading to a delay in the planned timetable.

This independent assessment is now complete and Mid Devon District Council is to now consider the findings of this assessment and the next steps for the Local Plan Review at meetings of the Cabinet on February 9 and full council on February 21.

The consultant considered the work undertaken by the council to have been proportionate and appropriate to meet the legal requirements.

Councillor Richard Chesterton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said: “The outcome of this review is good news for Mid Devon since it independently confirms the sustainability appraisal work to be proportionate and appropriate to meet legal requirements.

“The council will shortly have the opportunity to consider these findings and I am hopeful that we can seek to restart the examination process as soon as possible, to concentrate on securing the quality development envisaged in the new Plan.

“Having an adopted up-to-date Local Plan will secure our five-year supply of land for new homes and help protect areas from speculative development.”

Mid Devon councillors will consider a report on the outcome of this review process and decide on the way forward with the Local Plan Review.

The report will recommend that a six-week period of public consultation on the review’s findings and Sustainability Assessment Update (2018) is undertaken, in order that the examination process into the Local Plan itself can be restarted.

The new Local Plan is currently with an independent Planning Inspector to examine the Local Plan and all comments received.

The submission to the Planning Inspectorate also includes the council’s proposals for the funding of infrastructure from development (the Community Infrastructure Levy Draft Charging Schedule).

This will also be independently examined at the same time as the Local Plan.

Alan Quick