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Javid intervenes in housing association regeneration plans
Sajid Javid has demanded that plans for a housing association’s regeneration scheme in Bath do not receive council sign-off without his approval.
The communities secretary has ordered Bath & North East Somerset Council not to grant planning permission for Curo’s regeneration of the Foxhill Estate until he gives authorisation.
Curo, which manages more than 13,000 homes across the South West, wants to demolish 542 units on the estate and replace them with 700 new build homes.
Outline plans were given the green light by the council’s development management committee last month amid protests from local residents and campaigners.
The scheme has proved controversial, largely because the regeneration will see a net loss of 204 affordable rented homes on the site.
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A letter sent to the local authority’s director of planning on behalf of Mr Javid last week said: “In exercise of his powers under Article 31 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, the secretary of state hereby directs Bath & North East Somerset Council not to grant permission on this application without specific authorisation.
“This direction is issued to enable him to consider whether he should direct under Section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that the application should be referred to him for determination.”
It comes after Wera Hobhouse, local MP for Bath and communities and local government spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, wrote to Mr Javid requesting that he call in the decision.
My full letter to Sajid Javid re Foxhill, requesting call in on decision. Glad he took notice. pic.twitter.com/G02udnaNK1
— Wera Hobhouse MP (@Wera_Hobhouse)My full letter to Sajid Javid re Foxhill, requesting call in on decision. Glad he took notice. pic.twitter.com/G02udnaNK1
— Wera Hobhouse MP (@Wera_Hobhouse) August 22, 2017
She cited concerns over “the potential loss of social and affordable housing, which could lead to an increase in homelessness and impact on attracting and keeping key workers in the city”.
A spokesperson for Curo said: “This regeneration is a national Housing Zone project which has already received the support of both national and local government.
“We’ll continue to work with the community to ensure that every resident is fully engaged with the processes and benefits of the project, and to listen to their individual issues and concerns.”
A spokesperson for the council said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council is aware that the secretary of state is considering calling in the application for the redevelopment of the Foxhill Estate.
“If the application is called in it will be subject to a public inquiry, presided over by a planning inspector. A recommendation will then be made to the secretary of state who will decide the application.”
