West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has called on national planning chiefs to investigate delays securing the approval of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP). Harriett has written to the chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate to ask him to comment on serious delays which will mean that the local plan will not now be approved until next year. Local Planning Inspector Roger Clews’s office has written to Harriett explaining that he is not able to respond to correspondence because he is working on the Birmingham local plan. Harriett has written to Mr Clews’ boss – Simon Ridley - asking for an explanation on these extra delays and to urge him to ensure that his Planning Inspectors acknowledge that the SWDP is nearly complete when assessing planning appeals. She has also discussed the issue with Planning Minister Brandon Lewis who has written to her confirming that he has told Planning Inspectors that ‘the more advanced a draft plan is in the process, the more weight it carries in determining applications and appeals’. The South Worcestershire Development Plan was first approved by the three local councils in December 2012 but a series of bureaucratic delays have led to more than two years of delays. Another democratic local vote was also passed on September 30th 2014 to approve additional housing sites. A further public examination of the plan is now scheduled for the spring. Harriett commented: “These extensive bureaucratic delays are unacceptable to my constituents and to our local councillors. “The situation is compounded by the fact that the local planning Inspector is busy with the Birmingham plan rather than completing the task in Worcestershire. “I have written to Simon Ridley expressing my concerns. Most important, though, is that he instructs his Planning Inspectors to take into account the fact that our local plan is very nearly complete and this should be reflected in outstanding planning appeals. “The local district councils have done a difficult job and have now done everything they can to bring this local plan to fruition. It is now down to Mr Clews to complete his work which I hope will happen sooner, rather than later.”