To: Brandon Lewis, MP (Minister of State for Housing and Planning)
Subject: Planning System
Date: 7/10/2014

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Dear Brandon,

Following my questions at Norfolk Association of Local Council AGM on Saturday, you suggested I contact you directly via email, so here is the problem:

Let me first say I am in favour of development; I want Dereham to thrive and be successful for the benefit of all its residents. My problem is that hostile development is being thrust upon us because the District Council does not have a 5-year housing supply. A shortage of houses in Thetford, 30 miles away, gives a 'joker card' to developers to exploit land here in Dereham which had previously been rejected for development. We have infrastructure problems which mean developments have severe impact in terms of traffic congestion, school places, GP places, local jobs, etc. This has a negative impact on the existing population with no balancing benefit.

Breckland District Council are using the new homes bonus to support their revenue budget rather than providing extra facilities for the Town. Why should Dereham residents accept the social cost of new development under these circumstances? What can we do to resist when the District Council has not produced a local plan? I understand a Neighbourhood plan will cost in the region of £30,000 for us to produce – are we really going to risk this money which could all be wasted in there is not a majority vote on it? Even if we did it, Breckland still won’t have a 5 year land supply so we are still open to the hostile applications? Breckland are not participating in the CIL therefore there is no additional financial benefit.

We need jobs, which were promised as part of the LDF, but while we have more houses, there is no further employment opportunity. In effect the Town has become less sustainable because people have to drive elsewhere to seek employment.

However well-meaning the localism policy was, it has been circumvented here in Dereham, in spite of the Town Council's desire to engage and develop Dereham properly. There are lot of issues and I extend an invitation to visit and discuss – in order to develop effective policies you need to know where the problems are as well as the headline successes.

Best wishes,
Tim.

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Timothy Birt
Dereham Town Councillor
Tel: 01362-698829

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