Counting cost

I wish to make it very clear to those who are suspicious of Arun planning officers meeting with developers, prior to a submission of a planning application, that such a meeting in no way prejudges consideration of the completed application by the district council.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Jul 2013, 12:06 BST

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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It 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