Letter: Homes approved but never built

Letter: I notice strange things happening regarding planning. But it seems to me, that in its intention to make planning easier for developers, the government is solving the wrong problem.

In Ruyton XI Towns, approval was given almost five years ago for more than 100 homes to be built. An amazing number, considering we are a community of only 500 homes. But very few homes are being built.

Developers prefer to keep sites in the 'land-bank'. So approving more plans won't fix any housing shortage, just 'bank' more approvals.

The solution is for councils to be given authority to compulsorily purchase any land with planning permission that is not built on within five years at a price half way between the land value with and without the approval. Then build affordable homes on it.

Locally, we have a development under consideration for renewal, but with a substantially reduced community contribution.

The public meeting to consider this was well-reported by the Shropshire Star. Although the 'offer' by the developer has increased, it is still a tiny shadow of the previous agreement.

The current 'offer' is just over £100,000, it was well over £500,000. If approval were to be given after January 1, it would be subject to the community infrastructure levy. This would net more than £500,000 for our community. So why is Shropshire Council even considering the proposals?

All around Shropshire, and indeed the rest of the country, there are examples of 'land-banking' and apparently daft local decisions. Why do we tolerate it? Are we just too lazy to look at the facts and encourage obvious decisions? Who even knows how to access the on-line planning systems?

Unless we apply some effort, our communities will get the planning decisions that such apathy deserves.

Planning affects all of us – find out what is being proposed and make your views known. The alternative is uncontrolled building.

Colin Case

Ruyton XI Towns