keep Wrenthorpe a village

Thanks to the organizers of the public meeting with Ed Balls MP and Ward Councillors on 13 May, all of whom promised support for the community’s opposition to Wakefield Council’s LDF proposals to develop of Green Belt and greenfield land around Wrenthorpe for more housing. It was agreed that this should include opposition to development of all Green Belt sites around Wrenthorpe, including those in Alverthorpe at Batley Road and Wrenthorpe Lane as they all will contribute to the forseeable problems for the Wrenthorpe & Outwood West Ward. These problems arising from the limited capacity of the existing highway and drainage infrastructure, schools and other facilities were well aired at the meeting and recognised by elected Members.

A question was asked about the LDF approval process and it was noted that it is a legal as well as a political process and the objections which have been submitted will be considered by a Government Inspector in autumn at an Examination in Public, who will consider them and then make recommendations to Wakefield Council prior to its approval. This statutory approval process is very important in terms of the considerations which have to be taken into account and the Council will be obliged to pay attention to them. Therefore, for those with a little time to read the key documents, I offer the following internet links to the Communities & Local Government detailed guidance regarding approval of development plan documents, Green Belt and housing proposals:

• LDF Approval Process http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/pins/dpd_brief_guide_examining.pdf
This makes it clear that the Inspector has to take into account national planning guidance and that the Council must make the changes recommended by the Inspector in order to adopt the LDF document. It must also publish the Inspector’s recommendations and tell those people who asked to be informed of its publication.
• Green Belt http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/155499.pdf) This details Green Belt criteria and is one of the many national planning guidance documents which the Inspector will have to take into account. It states that Green Belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. If such an alteration is proposed, the Secretary of State will wish to be satisfied that the authority has considered opportunities for development within the urban areas contained by and beyond the Green Belt. The guidance indicates that Green Belt should be several miles wide and of a permanent nature, so as to ensure an appreciable open zone all round the built-up area concerned. It states that boundaries should be clearly defined, using readily recognisable features such as roads, streams, belts of trees or woodland edges where possible. In my view, one such type of physical feature is the massive line of very prominent National Grid pylons which carry the high voltage overhead transmission cables and the existing Green Belt provides a buffer of open land between it and Wrenthorpe / Alverthorpe at a safe distance from housing. Therefore this helps to define the edge of the villages, however the housing sites proposed at Batley Road and Wrenthorpe Lane are actually crossed by these overhead transmission lines and the other sites are brought much closer to them than existing houses.
• Housing http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/planningpolicystatement3.pdf
This is the key document governing the allocation and development of land for housing. It indicates that brownfield land should be developed before greenfield and it incorporates the principles behind sustainable development which we are keen to see, but it also requires authorities to set ambitious targets for bringing forward land for housing generally and affordable housing in particular. It is the Council’s case that it’s very high housing targets create the ‘exceptional circumstances’ which require it to take land out of the Green belt around Wrenthorpe and other places. In addition to political pressure, we need to persuade the Inspector that the Council needs to identify other solutions before it adopts the LDF.