Counting cost
For some years, it has been apparent that elected representatives of all tiers of local government must be involved in assessing the need for developers to include infrastructure provision and improvements related to a planning proposal – indeed, those who refuse to take part do their communities a disservice.
All too often, when a planning application for development has been refused by the planning authority, the resulting appeal adjudication, if successful, has failed to impose all the infrastructure improvements local communities would have wished to enable the development to not overburden any existing deficits.
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Hide AdIt cannot be right for those who may oppose a development to bury their heads in the sand and refuse to inform any potential developer of the needs an area has that would have to be met via developer contributions.
Far from being ‘arrogant’, as suggested by one of your correspondents, planning officers seek to ensure that the effect on a local community of any development proposal is minimised, no matter what their eventual recommendation to members of the council may be.
There never can be an assumption a planning application will be approved by the local planning authority simply because developers have agreed to deliver all the mitigation measures communities wish.
Councillor Ricky Bower, cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, Arun District Council
Southview
East Preston