Planning Portal - News round-up 22 September 2011

Traveller developments

Planning and Local Government Minister Bob Neill has insisted the Coalition’s planning reforms won’t weaken controls over unauthorised traveller sites.

He said: "The Government is scrapping the previous Government's planning rules on traveller sites and issuing explicit new planning guidance which increases protection of the Green Belt and open countryside. Stronger weight is being given to protection of local amenity and the local environment. And through the Localism Bill, councils are being given tougher enforcement powers to tackle the abuse of the system."

His comments came as residents of Dale Farm in Essex won an injunction preventing the clearance of 51 unauthorised plots until Friday (23 September).

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has confirmed it would continue to offer ‘land and investment’ to resettle Dale Farm residents – but that it could only find a solution with the help of Basildon Council.

The HCA said it owned ‘extensive’ land within the Basildon district and that its offer of help remained on the table if the council wished to continue negotiations, currently suspended.

via planningportal.gov.uk