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Sharma ‘will not call in’ Curo regeneration plans
Housing minister Alok Sharma has said he will not intervene in a housing association’s controversial estate regeneration plans, despite the government previously ordering the council not to proceed.
Mr Sharma yesterday wrote to Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, to say he has decided “not to call in” Curo’s application.
However, communities secretary Sajid Javid previously wrote to Bath & North East Somerset Council’s director of planning demanding that the plans should not be approved “without specific authorisation”.
Curo, which manages more than 13,000 homes across the South West, wants to demolish 542 homes on the Foxhill Estate and replace them with 700 new builds.
The plans have faced strong local opposition, but received outline permission from the authority in July.
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Ms Hobhouse wrote to Mr Javid requesting that he call in the decision, citing concerns over “the potential loss of social and affordable housing”.
But Mr Sharma’s letter yesterday said: “The call-in policy makes it clear that the power to call in an application will only be used very selectively.
“In deciding whether to call in this application, I have considered my policy on calling planning applications. This policy gives examples of the types of issues which may lead me to conclude, in my opinion, that an application should be called in.
“I have decided, having had regard to this policy, not to call in this application. I am satisfied that the application that you sought call-in of should be determined at local level.”
Victor da Cunha, chief executive of Curo, said: “Curo is committed to bringing significant investment and lasting change to Foxhill for the benefit of current and future generations, in partnership with the community, local and central government.
“We are working with residents to develop a renewed model of engagement and look forward to using this approach to shape detailed proposals for the first phase of regeneration together.”
