29 March 2009
Harriett Baldwin today continued her campaign to change the outcome of the South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy by sending in a detailed written submission.

These are the key points she raises

  • Malvern Hills District should be forced to take 4,900 homes, not twice that many with Worcester City's overspill
  • Development should be on brownfield and windfall sites, not prime agricultural land
  • In the light of the Conservative pledge to abolish the Regional Spatial Strategy and associated housing targets, South Worcestershire Councils need to have a phased strategy so that plans could be revised in the event of a change of government
  • A green belt must be placed between Worcester City and Kempsey and between Worcester and Lower Broadheath and Lower Broadheath and Hallow

Harriett Baldwin said, "I object strongly to the way in which this government has forced huge targets for housing on South Worcestershire from the top down. A Conservative government would abolish this approach.

I have met with the leaders of Wychavon District Council and Malvern Hills District Council to discuss a Plan B - what are the councils' options if there is a change in national government in the next 15 months? Sir Michael Spicer and I are urging them to consider passing council motions outlining the changes they would make to these imposed numbers and to ensure that the development timetable gives them the opportunity to revise these plans in the future."

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